@ 6146ad04:a0937b0b

As the crypto market gears up for what many believe could be the next major bull run, one question dominates investor conversations: Will Bitcoin lead the charge once again, or will a new class of AI-powered coins steal the spotlight? This isn’t just a speculative debate—it represents a deeper narrative shift in how crypto investors are thinking about value, utility, and the future of technology.

Bitcoin: The Proven Leader

Bitcoin has historically been the spark that ignites every major bull market. As the original cryptocurrency, it's viewed as the safest bet in an otherwise volatile industry. Its scarcity (capped at 21 million), increasing institutional interest (like the 2024 approval of multiple spot ETFs), and its role as a hedge against inflation have all contributed to its dominance.

Why Bitcoin Might Lead Again:

Institutional adoption: BlackRock, Fidelity, and other giants now offer Bitcoin ETFs, making BTC more accessible than ever.

Digital gold narrative: With macroeconomic uncertainty still looming, Bitcoin’s role as a store of value is being reinforced.

Halving cycle: The 2024 halving has historically been followed by price surges due to reduced supply and increasing demand.

Yet, despite all this, the market has matured—and so has investor appetite.

AI Coins: The New Frontier of Speculation and Utility

Enter AI coins, a category of tokens tied to projects using or enabling artificial intelligence through blockchain technology. These include platforms like Fetch.ai (FET), Render (RNDR), SingularityNET (AGIX), and Numerai (NMR).

Why AI Coins Are Catching Fire:

AI hype cycle: The AI boom, fueled by OpenAI, NVIDIA, and advancements in machine learning, has crossed over into crypto.

Speculative narratives: Investors are betting that decentralized AI networks could challenge centralized tech giants like Google and Meta.

Real use cases: Projects are building decentralized compute, AI marketplaces, and data-sharing protocols with real-world applications.

AI coins often exhibit faster, more dramatic price movements than Bitcoin—appealing to high-risk, high-reward traders. They're meme-able, futuristic, and aligned with the fastest-growing tech trend globally.

The Clash of Narratives

At their core, Bitcoin and AI coins represent two different kinds of crypto belief systems:

Trait Bitcoin AI Coins

Narrative Digital gold, store of value Innovation, future tech, decentralizing AI Volatility Lower High Market maturity Very mature Emerging Investor type Institutional, long-term holders Retail, speculative traders Use case Monetary alternative Data, compute, prediction, services

Rather than choosing between the two, many smart investors are allocating across both, with Bitcoin providing stability and AI coins offering exponential upside.

Market Signals to Watch

Dominance Index: Bitcoin’s dominance often shrinks when altcoin cycles heat up—watch for a dip below 50% as a signal AI coins are gaining ground.

VC Investment Trends: AI and Web3 crossover projects have received increasing venture capital attention.

On-chain activity: Active addresses, developer commits, and transaction volume in AI coin ecosystems are growing rapidly.

Final Thoughts

While Bitcoin may still be the undisputed king of crypto, AI coins are positioning themselves as the spark of the next wave of innovation. Whether they lead the bull run or ride its momentum, their influence is undeniable. Investors may not need to choose a side, but they do need to understand the strengths, risks, and narratives behind both.

In the next bull market, it may not be Bitcoin vs. AI coins—it could be Bitcoin and AI coins that reshape the financial and technological landscape.

@ 2edbcea6:40558884

Happy Sunday #Nostr !

Here’s your #NostrTechWeekly newsletter brought to you by nostr:npub19mduaf5569jx9xz555jcx3v06mvktvtpu0zgk47n4lcpjsz43zzqhj6vzk written by nostr:npub1r3fwhjpx2njy87f9qxmapjn9neutwh7aeww95e03drkfg45cey4qgl7ex2

NostrTechWeekly is a weekly newsletter focused on the more technical happenings in the nostr-verse.

Let’s dive in!

Recent Upgrades to Nostr (AKA NIPs)

It’s been a while since a new NIP was merged but there's a lot of activity on some meaty proposed NIPs. Looking forward to the upgrades 💪

1) (Proposed) NIP 96: HTTP File Storage

One of the challenges of Nostr is where to store files (images, videos, PDFs, etc). Storing them on relays could bloat relays and lead to more centralization.

This NIP proposes a protocol to help third parties offer file hosting services to Nostr users. This NIP defines the necessary shape of the API of a third party offering file hosting services, so that these services can be easily used by Nostr clients to serve the content to users.

The proposal also defines an optional way for users to specify which File Storage servers they’d like the client to upload content to.

Author: arthurfranca, Semisol, staab, v0l, bndw, michaelhall923, fishcakeday, quentintaranpino

2) (Proposed) Updates to NIP 72: Moderated Communities (like Reddit)

Currently NIP 72 specifies that posts to moderated communities are of kind 1 which is the default kind which is for tweet-like content. Therefore posts to moderated communities would show up in many clients without enough context.

This proposal would update the default kind for moderated communities so that the content of moderated communities would not show up on the default feed for users. This paves the way for Reddit-like clients to provide an experience that’s focused on just posts to these communities.

Author: vivganes

3) (Proposed) NIP 91: IoT Sensors and Intents

Right now many “Internet of Things” devices require you to report that data from the IoT sensor to the device maker’s servers and write integrations with their ecosystem to take action based on that information.

This NIP reserves a set of event kinds for IoT sensors reporting data (8000 - 8999). For example 8003 would be for thermometers to report temperature in celsius as a number, separate from 8005 which would allow reporting a location as an array of two numbers: longitude and latitude.

This NIP would allow developers to offer IoT devices that report to Nostr relays which gives you more control over the data and the process of taking action based on that data.

Author: nostr:npub180cvv07tjdrrgpa0j7j7tmnyl2yr6yr7l8j4s3evf6u64th6gkwsyjh6w6, BlackCoffee, arcbtc

4) (Proposed) NIP 107: Nostr Powered IoT

In conjunction with NIP 91, this NIP will enable a robust IoT ecosystem on Nostr.

This NIP’s goal is to help facilitate the development of Nostr clients that are IoT controllers. That way a user and a device can essentially “DM” each other data and commands.

For example a user could install an IoT device that’s a switch for a light. There would be a Nostr client where you can “register” the new device and authorize some list of Nostr users that can utilize the device

Once registered any authorized device user would be able to toggle the light on and off from a Nostr client that supports IoT operations. This is entirely done via Nostr DMs, so you can do this from anywhere as long as you control the private key of a user that the device recognizes as a controller, and the data transferred and the commands are encrypted.

Author: arcbtc, BlackCoffee

Notable Projects

Shopstr 🛒

Shopstr is a classifieds app similar to Craigslist, you can post items for sale and facilitate transactions via lightning payments or DMs. Still early but this will be a useful addition to the Nostr-verse and a circular Bitcoin economy.

Author: nostr:npub16dhgpql60vmd4mnydjut87vla23a38j689jssaqlqqlzrtqtd0kqex0nkq

Shipyard 🚢

https://shipyard.pub/ is a client for composing and scheduling Nostr content, it’s easy to use and pretty slick. Many big content creators rely on such tools for legacy social media (Twitter, Instagram, etc).

This is a huge unlock for any big content creators that want to make the transition to Nostr but still preserve their ability to push content on a regular basis and monetize it.

Author: nostr:npub1l2vyh47mk2p0qlsku7hg0vn29faehy9hy34ygaclpn66ukqp3afqutajft

Nostr Design 🎨

nostr:npub1r0rs5q2gk0e3dk3nlc7gnu378ec6cnlenqp8a3cjhyzu6f8k5sgs4sq9ac has been offering resources and design help to Nostr devs for some time now via nostrdesign.org.

NostrDesign.org has set out to start conversations around the unique communication challenges of Nostr (keypairs, relays, signing extensions, etc) so that we can build some common patterns to help normies get started with Nostr without too much confusion or tutorial overhead. This will become more necessary as time and adoption goes on.

Good design can also make a huge difference in the success of a new product, especially if there aren’t exact analogs to draw from when building a Nostr app (like when you’re cloning an existing product). I for one am a dev that SUCKS at UX and could use some advice from a thoughtful partner that wants Nostr’s success just as much as I do.

Latest conversations: Design and Nostr adoption

There’s been some discussion lately about how necessary design is to the Nostr ecosystem, and I’ll posit that it depends on your desires for Nostr.

Why design matters

Great design does not necessitate that something be beautiful. Great design is about usability.

Great design strips away unnecessary functionality and information so that only what matters remains. Great design understands the user’s desires and intent and empowers them to achieve their goals. Great design communicates how something ought to work with minimal explanation. Great design empowers the user to try something unfamiliar.

Craigslist is well designed in this sense, so is HackerNews, and the Reddit of a few years ago. They aren’t beautiful but they provide immense value in a simple and intuitive way.

Developers aren’t always the best at designing experiences that solve for usability and good communication to the user. The help of a good designer can be a huge help; making an app usable by a broader audience.

Accessibility and adoption

Adoption, in a very rough sense, can be thought of as a function of both how useful something is and how accessible it is. Think of accessibility as both how easy it is to use, as well as how easy it is to access (from my device, in my legal jurisdiction, for a low enough price).

If something is incredibly useful but not very accessible, only some people will use it (IRC). If something is very accessible but not very useful, no one will use it (case in point: it’s hard to name any 😂). If something is very useful and very accessible, then it will get widely adopted (ChatGPT).

If we want Nostr to remain a niche community (with limited impact on the world) then we can ignore how easy our ecosystem is to use. I don’t think that’s anyone’s goal.

The 10X better app on Nostr

When trying to get adoption for a new product the rule of thumb is that it needs to be 10X better than alternatives for folks to start adopting it and leave a competitor. Nostr is 10X better for folks that care about freedom tech, which is why most of us are already here.

We’ve built Nostr-based clones of many of the most prominent internet offerings (Twitter, Reddit, Imgur, Bitly, Instagram, Medium, WhatsApp, Craiglist, etc) the list goes on and on but that’s not driving adoption. That’s probably because the nostr-versions are, at-best, as good in functionality but they’re only better than the original in that they’re on Nostr (and therefore freedom tech).

Much to our consternation most people don’t seem to care about freedom tech as much as they should. If we’re to drive mass adoption we also have to discover applications that are uniquely possible on Nostr that are new and valuable enough to attract folks to try Nostr to try that app.

At that moment we’ll also need the basics of Nostr to be accessible enough that people aren’t scared off by the new patterns (keypairs, no usernames, no email alerts, no reset-password flow, which relays do I join?, etc). If we don’t care about solving both problems we are giving a middle finger to a majority of the population of Earth.

What era of Nostr are we in?

From what I’m seeing Nostr is still in the era of experimentation and foundation building.

If our goal is a freedom-oriented ecosystem of micro-apps to compete with Big Tech then we’re doing all the right work.

We definitely need to provide all the same functionality folks are used to (micro blogging, blogging, group chat, moderated communities, meme sharing, monetizing content, etc). Building Nostr-based clones is helping with that.

We are working on tools to help developers build on Nostr (NDK, NAK, nostr-tools, etc).

We’re building general purpose browsers (Spring) to explore all corners of Nostr (current and future)

We’re experimenting with offerings unique to Nostr to see what killer app drives people to try Nostr en masse (Data Vending Machines, self-sovereign Internet of Things, uncensorable private and secure group chat, etc).

Good design doesn’t seem to be THE reason that adoption of Nostr isn’t exponential, but at some point it will become the bottleneck to adoption and it’s good to think ahead. The best time to plant a tree is ten years ago and all that.

Until next time 🫡

If you want to see something highlighted, if we missed anything, or if you’re building something we didn’t post about, let us know. DMs welcome at nostr:npub19mduaf5569jx9xz555jcx3v06mvktvtpu0zgk47n4lcpjsz43zzqhj6vzk

Stay Classy, Nostr.

@ 9c9d2765:16f8c2c2

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO A gasp rippled through the public gallery. The final verdict was a seismic moment. The very individuals who had orchestrated a web of lies, who had tormented James and nearly dismantled his legacy, were finally being held accountable.

Mark clenched his fists, not in resistance, but in shame. He had underestimated the power of truth and overestimated his ability to manipulate it. Helen, whose ambition had once shone with ruthless brilliance, now looked ghostly pale. Her mask of superiority had slipped long ago now she appeared merely human, broken by consequence.

The sentence was read: fifteen years in federal prison without parole. The gavel came down like thunder, final and absolute.

Outside the courthouse, a sea of journalists flooded the steps, broadcasting the downfall of two of the city's most notorious conspirators. The news trended for days: “Justice Delivered: Mark and Helen Behind Bars.”

Elsewhere in the City...

James stood in his office, staring out the panoramic window. The skyline was as vivid as ever, but something within him had changed. The burden of vengeance was no longer resting on his shoulders; it had been replaced by a serene stillness, the kind that only comes when vindication meets closure.

Charles walked in with a soft smile. “It’s over,” he said gently, placing a newspaper on James’s desk.

James glanced at the front page: a large photo of Mark and Helen being escorted away in handcuffs beneath the bold headline.

“They thought they were writing your ending,” Charles said, “but you turned it into your beginning.”

James gave a modest nod. “I don’t want to be defined by what they did to me. I want to be remembered for what I did despite it.”

Charles patted his shoulder. “And you will be.”

Later That Evening…

Rita entered the room, her presence now as familiar and comforting as a warm breeze. She carried two glasses of wine and handed one to James. “To justice,” she said with a quiet smile.

“To new beginnings,” he replied, gently clinking his glass with hers.

They sat together, overlooking the city lights that shimmered like constellations on the earth. Below them, the world kept turning. But within their world, a storm had passed, and what remained was a sense of peace that only truth, time, and resilience could deliver.

James no longer carried the weight of proving himself. The world now knows the truth. His enemies had been exposed, and his name had been redeemed. Yet, more than that, he had found strength not in retaliation, but in rising above.

The glow of the evening sun spilled across the marble floors of JP Enterprises’ grand atrium, casting a warm golden hue that mirrored the fresh beginning within the company. The air inside was no longer heavy with silent whispers or wary eyes. Instead, it danced with hope, ambition, and a revived sense of unity. Employees walked taller, with lighter steps, no longer shadowed by fear or doubt.

At the heart of it all stood James.

Once scorned, rejected, and underestimated, James now commanded not only the title of President but the unwavering respect of every soul within those walls. But power had not swelled his ego instead, it had deepened his compassion. He had faced the abyss of betrayal, the mockery of the world, and the crushing weight of humiliation. Yet, like a phoenix, he had risen more brilliant, more composed, and infinitely wiser.

In his newly renovated office a tasteful blend of elegance and subtle grandeur James sat at the desk that had once been occupied by his father. The very same desk that had been out of his reach for years. Now, it belonged to him. Not because of inheritance, but because of merit.

He opened a letter from a small startup company seeking funding. As he read through the proposal, his eyes lingered not only on the numbers but the story behind it the dreams, the sacrifice, the courage. He saw himself in those words. A man who once had nothing but a belief in himself.

With a steady hand, he signed the approval and penned a note:

"Sometimes, all you need is for one person to believe in you. Let that be me."

A knock interrupted his thoughts.

Rita walked in, holding a file. Her expression was soft, almost serene. She had blossomed in her new role as the Executive Director of Strategic Development. No longer overshadowed, no longer silenced, she now stood as a powerful woman, respected for both her brilliance and her unshakable loyalty.

“They’ve confirmed the date for the scholarship launch,” she said, placing the folder in front of him.

James looked up. “Good. The youth deserve a chance. Just like I once did.”

She smiled, pride gleaming in her eyes. “You’re building more than just a company, James. You’re building legacies.”

He gazed at her for a moment, the corners of his mouth lifting into a quiet smile. “Legacies are not built by men who seek revenge. They’re built by those who rise after being broken.”

Outside the headquarters, billboards displayed JP Enterprises' newest initiative: The James Preston Foundation for Aspiring Entrepreneurs. It was a pledge to the next generation, a declaration that no dream was too small, no background too humble.

Elsewhere...

In the solitude of their prison cell, Mark stared blankly at the concrete wall. News of James’s continued rise had reached even there. Helen sat across from him, no longer wearing tailored suits or designer jewelry, but a faded uniform that matched her lost status.

“He was just supposed to be a stepping stone,” Helen muttered bitterly. “How did he end up at the summit?”

Mark didn’t respond. There was nothing left to say. Their ambitions had imploded, consumed by the fire of their own pride and cruelty.

Later That Night...

James stood alone on the rooftop of the JP tower, watching the city pulse with life beneath him. The stars above mirrored the twinkling lights below.

Rita joined him moments later, the wind tousling her hair. She didn’t say anything, just stood beside him, sharing the silence.

“You know,” James finally said, “for the longest time, I wanted to prove everyone wrong. Now... I just want to prove that they were wrong to ever doubt what’s possible.”

Rita nodded. “And you have.”

He turned to her, a tender light in his eyes. “I couldn’t have done it alone.”

They stood there, two warriors shaped by fire, not bound by the past but inspired by it.

@ 21335073:a244b1ad

Someone asked for my thoughts, so I’ll share them thoughtfully. I’m not here to dictate how to promote Nostr—I’m still learning about it myself. While I’m not new to Nostr, freedom tech is a newer space for me. I’m skilled at advocating for topics I deeply understand, but freedom tech isn’t my expertise, so take my words with a grain of salt. Nothing I say is set in stone.

Those who need Nostr the most are the ones most vulnerable to censorship on other platforms right now. Reaching them requires real-time awareness of global issues and the dynamic relationships between governments and tech providers, which can shift suddenly. Effective Nostr promoters must grasp this and adapt quickly.

The best messengers are people from or closely tied to these at-risk regions—those who truly understand the local political and cultural dynamics. They can connect with those in need when tensions rise. Ideal promoters are rational, trustworthy, passionate about Nostr, but above all, dedicated to amplifying people’s voices when it matters most.

Forget influencers, corporate-backed figures, or traditional online PR—it comes off as inauthentic, corny, desperate and forced. Nostr’s promotion should be grassroots and organic, driven by a few passionate individuals who believe in Nostr and the communities they serve.

The idea that “people won’t join Nostr due to lack of reach” is nonsense. Everyone knows X’s “reach” is mostly with bots. If humans want real conversations, Nostr is the place. X is great for propaganda, but Nostr is for the authentic voices of the people.

Those spreading Nostr must be so passionate they’re willing to onboard others, which is time-consuming but rewarding for the right person. They’ll need to make Nostr and onboarding a core part of who they are. I see no issue with that level of dedication. I’ve been known to get that way myself at times. It’s fun for some folks.

With love, I suggest not adding Bitcoin promotion with Nostr outreach. Zaps already integrate that element naturally. (Still promote within the Bitcoin ecosystem, but this is about reaching vulnerable voices who needed Nostr yesterday.)

To promote Nostr, forget conventional strategies. “Influencers” aren’t the answer. “Influencers” are not the future. A trusted local community member has real influence—reach them. Connect with people seeking Nostr’s benefits but lacking the technical language to express it. This means some in the Nostr community might need to step outside of the Bitcoin bubble, which is uncomfortable but necessary. Thank you in advance to those who are willing to do that.

I don’t know who is paid to promote Nostr, if anyone. This piece isn’t shade. But it’s exhausting to see innocent voices globally silenced on corporate platforms like X while Nostr exists. Last night, I wondered: how many more voices must be censored before the Nostr community gets uncomfortable and thinks creatively to reach the vulnerable?

A warning: the global need for censorship-resistant social media is undeniable. If Nostr doesn’t make itself known, something else will fill that void. Let’s start this conversation.

@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d

Panama City may be the next Latin American city to adopt bitcoin, after El Salvador.

Panama City Mayor Mayer Mizrachi has got the bitcoin world excited after hinting that the city might have a bitcoin reserve. The speculation started on May 16 when Mizrachi posted a simple but powerful message on X:

Two words. That’s it. What makes it special is that it came after a high-profile meeting with Max Keiser and Stacy Herbert, two key figures behind El Salvador’s bitcoin strategy.

Keiser is an advisor to El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele and Herbert leads the country’s Bitcoin Office.

El Salvador became the first country to adopt bitcoin as legal tender back in 2021. Since then, it has been building a national bitcoin reserve, currently holding 6,179 BTC worth around $640 million. It’s also using geothermal energy to power bitcoin mining in an eco-friendly way.

El Salvador’s bitcoin treasury — Bitcoin.gob.sv

Mizrachi’s meeting with Keiser and Herbert was about how Panama could do the same. While the details of the conversation are private, Keiser shared on social media that the two countries will play a big role in the future of Bitcoin.

“Bitcoin is transforming Central America,” Keiser wrote. “El Salvador’s geothermal & Panama’s hydro-electric will power the Bitcoin revolution.”

Max Keiser on X

Panama with its hydroelectric power could be a hub for green bitcoin mining.

Mizrachi has not announced a bitcoin reserve plan nor submitted a proposal to the National Assembly. But his post and public appearances suggest it’s being considered.

He will be speaking at the upcoming Bitcoin 2025 Conference in Las Vegas just days after his social media post. Many expect he will share more about Panama City’s bitcoin plans during his talk.

If Mizrachi pushes for a bitcoin reserve, he will need to work with national lawmakers to pass new legislation. So far, there is no evidence of that.

Even without a bitcoin reserve, Panama City is already going big on digital assets.

In April 2025, the city council approved a measure to allow residents to pay taxes, fees, fines and permits with digital currencies. Supported tokens are bitcoin (BTC), ethereum (ETH), USD Coin (USDC) and Tether (USDT).

To comply with financial laws, the city has partnered with a bank that instantly converts these digital assets into U.S. dollars. According to Mizrachi, this way it’s easier for residents to use digital assets and the city’s financial operations will be transparent and legal.

Another part of the meeting with El Salvador’s advisors was education.

Stacy Herbert confirmed that Panama City will be integrating El Salvador’s financial literacy book, “What is Money?” into their digital library system. The goal is to help students, teachers and the general public understand bitcoin and digital currencies in modern finance.

This is a trend in Latin America where countries are looking for alternatives to traditional banking systems. Inflation, economic instability and the rise of decentralized finance are forcing governments to look into new financial tools.

@ 812cff5a:5c40aeeb

NIP-01 — الشكل الأساسي للأحداث في نُستر

رقم التعريف (NIP): 01
العنوان: الشكل الأساسي للأحداث
الحالة: نهائي
المؤلف: fiatjaf
التاريخ: 2020-12-10

---

الملخص

هذا المستند يعرّف الشكل القياسي لأي "حدث" يتم تداوله ضمن شبكة نُستر (Nostr).
الهدف من هذا التنسيق هو ضمان إمكانية معالجة وتفسير الأحداث من قبل جميع العملاء والخوادم بطريقة موحّدة.

---

هيكل الحدث

كل حدث عبارة عن كائن يحتوي على الحقول التالية:

{ "id": <معرّف فريد>, "pubkey": <مفتاح عام للمرسل>, "created_at": <تاريخ الإنشاء كرقم UNIX timestamp>, "kind": <نوع الحدث>, "tags": [<قائمة من الوسوم>], "content": <المحتوى>, "sig": <التوقيع الرقمي> }

---

شرح الحقول

• id: سلسلة نصية تمثل SHA-256 لمحتوى الحدث.
• pubkey: المفتاح العام للمستخدم (عادةً 32 بايت بصيغة hex).
• created_at: الطابع الزمني للإنشاء (Unix timestamp).
• kind: رقم يحدد نوع الحدث (مثلاً: منشور، متابعة، إعادة نشر).
• tags: قائمة من الوسوم المرتبطة بالحدث (مثلاً: إشارة إلى مستخدم أو حدث).
• content: المحتوى الأساسي للحدث (نص أو بيانات).
• sig: التوقيع الرقمي الذي يثبت أن المرسل هو صاحب المحتوى.

---

كيفية توليد معرف الحدث id

يتم توليد المعرّف عبر أخذ تمثيل JSON للحدث (بدون الحقول id و sig) ثم حساب التجزئة باستخدام SHA-256.

---

توقيع الحدث

يُوقّع المستخدم الحدث باستخدام مفتاحه الخاص.
هذا التوقيع الرقمي يسمح لأي شخص بالتحقق من صحة الحدث باستخدام المفتاح العام.

---

أنواع الأحداث (kind)

• 0: ملف التعريف (الاسم، الصورة، النبذة).
• 1: منشور عام نصي.
• 2: إعادة نشر.
• 3: قائمة المتابَعين.
• 4: رسالة مشفّرة خاصة.
• أنواع أخرى يمكن إضافتها لاحقًا.

---

الوسوم (Tags)

الوسوم عبارة عن قوائم (arrays) داخل الحدث لتوفير معلومات إضافية.
مثال:

["e", "<معرّف الحدث>"] ["p", "<مفتاح عام لمستخدم>"]

• "e" تشير إلى حدث.
• "p" تشير إلى مستخدم.

---

الخلاصة

NIP-01 هو الأساس الهيكلي لتبادل الأحداث عبر نُستر.
من خلال اتباع هذا الشكل، يمكن لجميع التطبيقات والخوادم العمل معاً بسلاسة، وضمان أمن وموثوقية كل حدث.

@ 9c9d2765:16f8c2c2

In a forgotten valley surrounded by mountains, there lived a girl named Rita. Her village believed in balance above all. They built lives without extremes no loud laughter, no deep sorrow. Everything was quiet, even joy. Smiles were polite. Tears were hidden.

Rita had always felt something missing. She saw it in dreams vivid colors, music, a joy that made your chest ache with light. But in her village, emotion was like a weed trimmed before it grew wild.

One day, exploring beyond the hills, Rita found a strange garden untouched, walled off, hidden behind a curtain of vines. Inside, roses bloomed in impossible colors, but every rosebush was thick with thorns. A single sign read:

“Only those who bleed may feel the bloom.”

Curious, Rita reached out. A thorn pierced her skin. Pain flared through her finger. She recoiled but then, something strange happened. The air shimmered. The garden came alive with fragrance, color, and warmth she’d never known. Her wound stung, but her heart raced with wonder.

She returned every day. Each time, the thorns drew blood and each time, the garden showed her something deeper: the memory of a lost friend, the sting of loneliness, the ache of longing. She wept. She raged. She broke.

And then one day she laughed. Not politely. Not softly. But with her whole body. The pain had carved space for something vast. She danced barefoot among the thorns, scars and all.

Years later, when Rita returned to her village, she was changed. She sang songs that made people cry and laugh in the same breath. She planted a new garden in the town square with thorns intact and invited everyone in.

At first, they hesitated. But slowly, they followed her path. And one by one, the village bloomed with color.

Moral: To feel happiness, you must experience pain because only through the thorns can the roses mean something.

@ 10846a37:73b5f923

Com a crescente popularidade das plataformas de jogos online no Brasil, surge uma nova opção que promete elevar o nível da diversão e da confiabilidade: 115Bet. Este portal se destaca por oferecer uma experiência completa, com tecnologia de ponta, suporte ao usuário de alta qualidade e uma variedade de jogos que atende desde os iniciantes até os mais experientes. Neste artigo, vamos apresentar os principais atrativos da 115Bet, explorar os tipos de jogos disponíveis e compartilhar como é a experiência de quem escolhe essa plataforma para se divertir.

Plataforma Moderna e Segura Um dos primeiros pontos que chamam atenção na 115Bet é o seu design moderno e intuitivo. A navegação no site é simples, rápida e responsiva em qualquer dispositivo — seja no computador, tablet ou smartphone. A segurança também é prioridade: a plataforma conta com criptografia de dados e sistemas avançados de proteção para garantir a privacidade e a tranquilidade dos jogadores.

Além disso, a 115betoferece um ambiente 100% legalizado, com licenciamento internacional que segue todas as normas exigidas para o funcionamento transparente e justo.

Variedade de Jogos para Todos os Gostos O catálogo de jogos da 115Bet é diversificado e sempre atualizado. Os usuários encontram títulos populares e de alta performance, desenvolvidos por fornecedores reconhecidos no mercado. Entre os destaques estão:

Slots temáticos: jogos com gráficos impressionantes e mecânicas envolventes. Dos temas clássicos aos mais modernos, há opções para todos os estilos.

Roleta ao vivo: com crupiês reais e transmissão em tempo real, os jogadores vivenciam uma experiência autêntica e interativa.

Blackjack: versões tradicionais e alternativas que exigem estratégia e concentração.

Bacará: ideal para quem busca emoção com regras simples e partidas dinâmicas.

Jogos de números e apostas rápidas: como keno, bingo e outros jogos instantâneos, perfeitos para quem gosta de agilidade.

Outro diferencial importante é a presença de mesas ao vivo, com profissionais capacitados e interação em tempo real, proporcionando uma atmosfera envolvente.

Experiência do Jogador: Suporte e Benefícios A experiência do jogador na 115Bet é marcada pelo cuidado com o atendimento e pelas vantagens oferecidas. O suporte está disponível 24 horas por dia, em português, por chat ao vivo ou e-mail, garantindo agilidade e eficiência na resolução de dúvidas ou problemas.

A plataforma também é conhecida por seu programa de bônus atrativos, incluindo recompensas de boas-vindas, promoções frequentes e um sistema de fidelidade para jogadores assíduos. Isso significa que, além de se divertir, o usuário é constantemente valorizado e incentivado a continuar jogando.

Outro ponto positivo é a facilidade nos depósitos e saques, com métodos de pagamento populares no Brasil, como Pix, transferência bancária, carteiras digitais e criptomoedas. As transações são rápidas e seguras, aumentando ainda mais a confiança dos usuários.

Conclusão A 115Bet chega ao mercado brasileiro como uma excelente alternativa para quem busca entretenimento online de qualidade, com uma plataforma segura, ampla variedade de jogos e uma experiência que coloca o jogador em primeiro lugar. Seja para relaxar após um dia de trabalho ou para desafiar sua sorte e habilidade, a 115Bet oferece todas as ferramentas necessárias para transformar cada acesso em momentos inesquecíveis. Vale a pena conhecer e experimentar tudo o que essa plataforma tem a oferecer!

@ c1e9ab3a:9cb56b43

Star Wars is often viewed as a myth of rebellion, freedom, and resistance to tyranny. The iconography—scrappy rebels, totalitarian stormtroopers, lone smugglers—suggests a deep anti-authoritarian ethos. Yet, beneath the surface, the narrative arc of Star Wars consistently affirms the necessity, even sanctity, of central authority. This blog entry introduces the question: Is Star Wars fundamentally a celebration of statism?

---

Rebellion as Restoration, Not Revolution

The Rebel Alliance’s mission is not to dismantle centralized power, but to restore the Galactic Republic—a bureaucratic, centrally governed institution. Characters like Mon Mothma and Bail Organa are high-ranking senators, not populist revolutionaries. The goal is to remove the corrupt Empire and reinstall a previous central authority, presumed to be just.

• Rebels are loyalists to a prior state structure.
• Power is not questioned, only who wields it.

---

Jedi as Centralized Moral Elites

The Jedi, often idealized as protectors of peace, are unelected, extra-legal enforcers of moral and military order. Their authority stems from esoteric metaphysical abilities rather than democratic legitimacy.

• They answer only to their internal Council.
• They are deployed by the Senate, but act independently of civil law.
• Their collapse is depicted as tragic not because they were unaccountable, but because they were betrayed.

This positions them as a theocratic elite, not spiritual anarchists.

---

Chaos and the Frontier: The Case of the Cantina

The Mos Eisley cantina, often viewed as a symbol of frontier freedom, reveals something darker. It is: - Lawless - Violent - Culturally fragmented

Conflict resolution occurs through murder, not mediation. Obi-Wan slices off a limb; Han shoots first—both without legal consequence. There is no evidence of property rights, dispute resolution, or voluntary order.

This is not libertarian pluralism—it’s moral entropy. The message: without centralized governance, barbarism reigns.

---

The Mythic Arc: Restoration of the Just State

Every trilogy in the saga returns to a single theme: the fall and redemption of legitimate authority.

1. Prequels: Republic collapses into tyranny.
2. Originals: Rebels fight to restore legitimate order.
3. Sequels: Weak governance leads to resurgence of authoritarianism; heroes must reestablish moral centralism.

The story is not anti-state—it’s anti-bad state. The solution is never decentralization; it’s the return of the right ruler or order.

---

Conclusion: The Hidden Statism of a Rebel Myth

Star Wars wears the costume of rebellion, but tells the story of centralized salvation. It: - Validates elite moral authority (Jedi) - Romanticizes restoration of fallen governments (Republic) - Portrays decentralized zones as corrupt and savage (outer rim worlds)

It is not an anarchist parable, nor a libertarian fable. It is a statist mythology, clothed in the spectacle of rebellion. Its core message is not that power should be abolished, but that power belongs to the virtuous few.

---

Question to Consider:
If the Star Wars universe consistently affirms the need for centralized moral and political authority, should we continue to see it as a myth of freedom? Or is it time to recognize it as a narrative of benevolent empire?

@ 21335073:a244b1ad

Please respect Virginia Giuffre’s memory by refraining from asking about the circumstances or theories surrounding her passing.

Since Virginia Giuffre’s death, I’ve reflected on what she would want me to say or do. This piece is my attempt to honor her legacy.

When I first spoke with Virginia, I was struck by her unshakable hope. I had grown cynical after years in the anti-human trafficking movement, worn down by a broken system and a government that often seemed complicit. But Virginia’s passion, creativity, and belief that survivors could be heard reignited something in me. She reminded me of my younger, more hopeful self. Instead of warning her about the challenges ahead, I let her dream big, unburdened by my own disillusionment. That conversation changed me for the better, and following her lead led to meaningful progress.

Virginia was one of the bravest people I’ve ever known. As a survivor of Epstein, Maxwell, and their co-conspirators, she risked everything to speak out, taking on some of the world’s most powerful figures.

She loved when I said, “Epstein isn’t the only Epstein.” This wasn’t just about one man—it was a call to hold all abusers accountable and to ensure survivors find hope and healing.

The Epstein case often gets reduced to sensational details about the elite, but that misses the bigger picture. Yes, we should be holding all of the co-conspirators accountable, we must listen to the survivors’ stories. Their experiences reveal how predators exploit vulnerabilities, offering lessons to prevent future victims.

You’re not powerless in this fight. Educate yourself about trafficking and abuse—online and offline—and take steps to protect those around you. Supporting survivors starts with small, meaningful actions. Free online resources can guide you in being a safe, supportive presence.

When high-profile accusations arise, resist snap judgments. Instead of dismissing survivors as “crazy,” pause to consider the trauma they may be navigating. Speaking out or coping with abuse is never easy. You don’t have to believe every claim, but you can refrain from attacking accusers online.

Society also fails at providing aftercare for survivors. The government, often part of the problem, won’t solve this. It’s up to us. Prevention is critical, but when abuse occurs, step up for your loved ones and community. Protect the vulnerable. it’s a challenging but a rewarding journey.

If you’re contributing to Nostr, you’re helping build a censorship resistant platform where survivors can share their stories freely, no matter how powerful their abusers are. Their voices can endure here, offering strength and hope to others. This gives me great hope for the future.

Virginia Giuffre’s courage was a gift to the world. It was an honor to know and serve her. She will be deeply missed. My hope is that her story inspires others to take on the powerful.

@ 52b4a076:e7fad8bd

I have been recently building NFDB, a new relay DB. This post is meant as a short overview.

Regular relays have challenges

Current relay software have significant challenges, which I have experienced when hosting Nostr.land: - Scalability is only supported by adding full replicas, which does not scale to large relays. - Most relays use slow databases and are not optimized for large scale usage. - Search is near-impossible to implement on standard relays. - Privacy features such as NIP-42 are lacking. - Regular DB maintenance tasks on normal relays require extended downtime. - Fault-tolerance is implemented, if any, using a load balancer, which is limited. - Personalization and advanced filtering is not possible. - Local caching is not supported.

NFDB: A scalable database for large relays

NFDB is a new database meant for medium-large scale relays, built on FoundationDB that provides: - Near-unlimited scalability - Extended fault tolerance - Instant loading - Better search - Better personalization - and more.

Search

NFDB has extended search capabilities including: - Semantic search: Search for meaning, not words. - Interest-based search: Highlight content you care about. - Multi-faceted queries: Easily filter by topic, author group, keywords, and more at the same time. - Wide support for event kinds, including users, articles, etc.

Personalization

NFDB allows significant personalization: - Customized algorithms: Be your own algorithm. - Spam filtering: Filter content to your WoT, and use advanced spam filters. - Topic mutes: Mute topics, not keywords. - Media filtering: With Nostr.build, you will be able to filter NSFW and other content - Low data mode: Block notes that use high amounts of cellular data. - and more

Other

NFDB has support for many other features such as: - NIP-42: Protect your privacy with private drafts and DMs - Microrelays: Easily deploy your own personal microrelay - Containers: Dedicated, fast storage for discoverability events such as relay lists

Calcite: A local microrelay database

Calcite is a lightweight, local version of NFDB that is meant for microrelays and caching, meant for thousands of personal microrelays.

Calcite HA is an additional layer that allows live migration and relay failover in under 30 seconds, providing higher availability compared to current relays with greater simplicity. Calcite HA is enabled in all Calcite deployments.

For zero-downtime, NFDB is recommended.

Noswhere SmartCache

Relays are fixed in one location, but users can be anywhere.

Noswhere SmartCache is a CDN for relays that dynamically caches data on edge servers closest to you, allowing: - Multiple regions around the world - Improved throughput and performance - Faster loading times

routerd

routerd is a custom load-balancer optimized for Nostr relays, integrated with SmartCache.

routerd is specifically integrated with NFDB and Calcite HA to provide fast failover and high performance.

Ending notes

NFDB is planned to be deployed to Nostr.land in the coming weeks.

A lot more is to come. 👀️️️️️️

@ 91bea5cd:1df4451c

O Contexto Legal Brasileiro e o Consentimento

No ordenamento jurídico brasileiro, o consentimento do ofendido pode, em certas circunstâncias, afastar a ilicitude de um ato que, sem ele, configuraria crime (como lesão corporal leve, prevista no Art. 129 do Código Penal). Contudo, o consentimento tem limites claros: não é válido para bens jurídicos indisponíveis, como a vida, e sua eficácia é questionável em casos de lesões corporais graves ou gravíssimas.

A prática de BDSM consensual situa-se em uma zona complexa. Em tese, se ambos os parceiros são adultos, capazes, e consentiram livre e informadamente nos atos praticados, sem que resultem em lesões graves permanentes ou risco de morte não consentido, não haveria crime. O desafio reside na comprovação desse consentimento, especialmente se uma das partes, posteriormente, o negar ou alegar coação.

A Lei Maria da Penha (Lei nº 11.340/2006)

A Lei Maria da Penha é um marco fundamental na proteção da mulher contra a violência doméstica e familiar. Ela estabelece mecanismos para coibir e prevenir tal violência, definindo suas formas (física, psicológica, sexual, patrimonial e moral) e prevendo medidas protetivas de urgência.

Embora essencial, a aplicação da lei em contextos de BDSM pode ser delicada. Uma alegação de violência por parte da mulher, mesmo que as lesões ou situações decorram de práticas consensuais, tende a receber atenção prioritária das autoridades, dada a presunção de vulnerabilidade estabelecida pela lei. Isso pode criar um cenário onde o parceiro masculino enfrenta dificuldades significativas em demonstrar a natureza consensual dos atos, especialmente se não houver provas robustas pré-constituídas.

Outros riscos:

Lesão corporal grave ou gravíssima (art. 129, §§ 1º e 2º, CP), não pode ser justificada pelo consentimento, podendo ensejar persecução penal.

Crimes contra a dignidade sexual (arts. 213 e seguintes do CP) são de ação pública incondicionada e independem de representação da vítima para a investigação e denúncia.

Riscos de Falsas Acusações e Alegação de Coação Futura

Os riscos para os praticantes de BDSM, especialmente para o parceiro que assume o papel dominante ou que inflige dor/restrição (frequentemente, mas não exclusivamente, o homem), podem surgir de diversas frentes:

1. Acusações Externas: Vizinhos, familiares ou amigos que desconhecem a natureza consensual do relacionamento podem interpretar sons, marcas ou comportamentos como sinais de abuso e denunciar às autoridades.
2. Alegações Futuras da Parceira: Em caso de término conturbado, vingança, arrependimento ou mudança de perspectiva, a parceira pode reinterpretar as práticas passadas como abuso e buscar reparação ou retaliação através de uma denúncia. A alegação pode ser de que o consentimento nunca existiu ou foi viciado.
3. Alegação de Coação: Uma das formas mais complexas de refutar é a alegação de que o consentimento foi obtido mediante coação (física, moral, psicológica ou econômica). A parceira pode alegar, por exemplo, que se sentia pressionada, intimidada ou dependente, e que seu "sim" não era genuíno. Provar a ausência de coação a posteriori é extremamente difícil.
4. Ingenuidade e Vulnerabilidade Masculina: Muitos homens, confiando na dinâmica consensual e na parceira, podem negligenciar a necessidade de precauções. A crença de que "isso nunca aconteceria comigo" ou a falta de conhecimento sobre as implicações legais e o peso processual de uma acusação no âmbito da Lei Maria da Penha podem deixá-los vulneráveis. A presença de marcas físicas, mesmo que consentidas, pode ser usada como evidência de agressão, invertendo o ônus da prova na prática, ainda que não na teoria jurídica.

Estratégias de Prevenção e Mitigação

Não existe um método infalível para evitar completamente o risco de uma falsa acusação, mas diversas medidas podem ser adotadas para construir um histórico de consentimento e reduzir vulnerabilidades:

1. Comunicação Explícita e Contínua: A base de qualquer prática BDSM segura é a comunicação constante. Negociar limites, desejos, palavras de segurança ("safewords") e expectativas antes, durante e depois das cenas é crucial. Manter registros dessas negociações (e-mails, mensagens, diários compartilhados) pode ser útil.

2. Documentação do Consentimento:

   • Contratos de Relacionamento/Cena: Embora a validade jurídica de "contratos BDSM" seja discutível no Brasil (não podem afastar normas de ordem pública), eles servem como forte evidência da intenção das partes, da negociação detalhada de limites e do consentimento informado. Devem ser claros, datados, assinados e, idealmente, reconhecidos em cartório (para prova de data e autenticidade das assinaturas).

   • Registros Audiovisuais: Gravar (com consentimento explícito para a gravação) discussões sobre consentimento e limites antes das cenas pode ser uma prova poderosa. Gravar as próprias cenas é mais complexo devido a questões de privacidade e potencial uso indevido, mas pode ser considerado em casos específicos, sempre com consentimento mútuo documentado para a gravação.

     Importante: a gravação deve ser com ciência da outra parte, para não configurar violação da intimidade (art. 5º, X, da Constituição Federal e art. 20 do Código Civil).

3. Testemunhas: Em alguns contextos de comunidade BDSM, a presença de terceiros de confiança durante negociações ou mesmo cenas pode servir como testemunho, embora isso possa alterar a dinâmica íntima do casal.

4. Estabelecimento Claro de Limites e Palavras de Segurança: Definir e respeitar rigorosamente os limites (o que é permitido, o que é proibido) e as palavras de segurança é fundamental. O desrespeito a uma palavra de segurança encerra o consentimento para aquele ato.
5. Avaliação Contínua do Consentimento: O consentimento não é um cheque em branco; ele deve ser entusiástico, contínuo e revogável a qualquer momento. Verificar o bem-estar do parceiro durante a cena ("check-ins") é essencial.
6. Discrição e Cuidado com Evidências Físicas: Ser discreto sobre a natureza do relacionamento pode evitar mal-entendidos externos. Após cenas que deixem marcas, é prudente que ambos os parceiros estejam cientes e de acordo, talvez documentando por fotos (com data) e uma nota sobre a consensualidade da prática que as gerou.
7. Aconselhamento Jurídico Preventivo: Consultar um advogado especializado em direito de família e criminal, com sensibilidade para dinâmicas de relacionamento alternativas, pode fornecer orientação personalizada sobre as melhores formas de documentar o consentimento e entender os riscos legais específicos.

Observações Importantes

• Nenhuma documentação substitui a necessidade de consentimento real, livre, informado e contínuo.
• A lei brasileira protege a "integridade física" e a "dignidade humana". Práticas que resultem em lesões graves ou que violem a dignidade de forma não consentida (ou com consentimento viciado) serão ilegais, independentemente de qualquer acordo prévio.
• Em caso de acusação, a existência de documentação robusta de consentimento não garante a absolvição, mas fortalece significativamente a defesa, ajudando a demonstrar a natureza consensual da relação e das práticas.

• A alegação de coação futura é particularmente difícil de prevenir apenas com documentos. Um histórico consistente de comunicação aberta (whatsapp/telegram/e-mails), respeito mútuo e ausência de dependência ou controle excessivo na relação pode ajudar a contextualizar a dinâmica como não coercitiva.

• Cuidado com Marcas Visíveis e Lesões Graves Práticas que resultam em hematomas severos ou lesões podem ser interpretadas como agressão, mesmo que consentidas. Evitar excessos protege não apenas a integridade física, mas também evita questionamentos legais futuros.

O que vem a ser consentimento viciado

No Direito, consentimento viciado é quando a pessoa concorda com algo, mas a vontade dela não é livre ou plena — ou seja, o consentimento existe formalmente, mas é defeituoso por alguma razão.

O Código Civil brasileiro (art. 138 a 165) define várias formas de vício de consentimento. As principais são:

Erro: A pessoa se engana sobre o que está consentindo. (Ex.: A pessoa acredita que vai participar de um jogo leve, mas na verdade é exposta a práticas pesadas.)

Dolo: A pessoa é enganada propositalmente para aceitar algo. (Ex.: Alguém mente sobre o que vai acontecer durante a prática.)

Coação: A pessoa é forçada ou ameaçada a consentir. (Ex.: "Se você não aceitar, eu termino com você" — pressão emocional forte pode ser vista como coação.)

Estado de perigo ou lesão: A pessoa aceita algo em situação de necessidade extrema ou abuso de sua vulnerabilidade. (Ex.: Alguém em situação emocional muito fragilizada é induzida a aceitar práticas que normalmente recusaria.)

No contexto de BDSM, isso é ainda mais delicado: Mesmo que a pessoa tenha "assinado" um contrato ou dito "sim", se depois ela alegar que seu consentimento foi dado sob medo, engano ou pressão psicológica, o consentimento pode ser considerado viciado — e, portanto, juridicamente inválido.

Isso tem duas implicações sérias:

1. O crime não se descaracteriza: Se houver vício, o consentimento é ignorado e a prática pode ser tratada como crime normal (lesão corporal, estupro, tortura, etc.).

2. A prova do consentimento precisa ser sólida: Mostrando que a pessoa estava informada, lúcida, livre e sem qualquer tipo de coação.

   Consentimento viciado é quando a pessoa concorda formalmente, mas de maneira enganada, forçada ou pressionada, tornando o consentimento inútil para efeitos jurídicos.

Conclusão

Casais que praticam BDSM consensual no Brasil navegam em um terreno que exige não apenas confiança mútua e comunicação excepcional, mas também uma consciência aguçada das complexidades legais e dos riscos de interpretações equivocadas ou acusações mal-intencionadas. Embora o BDSM seja uma expressão legítima da sexualidade humana, sua prática no Brasil exige responsabilidade redobrada. Ter provas claras de consentimento, manter a comunicação aberta e agir com prudência são formas eficazes de se proteger de falsas alegações e preservar a liberdade e a segurança de todos os envolvidos. Embora leis controversas como a Maria da Penha sejam "vitais" para a proteção contra a violência real, os praticantes de BDSM, e em particular os homens nesse contexto, devem adotar uma postura proativa e prudente para mitigar os riscos inerentes à potencial má interpretação ou instrumentalização dessas práticas e leis, garantindo que a expressão de sua consensualidade esteja resguardada na medida do possível.

---

Importante: No Brasil, mesmo com tudo isso, o Ministério Público pode denunciar por crime como lesão corporal grave, estupro ou tortura, independente de consentimento. Então a prudência nas práticas é fundamental.

Aviso Legal: Este artigo tem caráter meramente informativo e não constitui aconselhamento jurídico. As leis e interpretações podem mudar, e cada situação é única. Recomenda-se buscar orientação de um advogado qualificado para discutir casos específicos.

Se curtiu este artigo faça uma contribuição, se tiver algum ponto relevante para o artigo deixe seu comentário.

@ d360efec:14907b5f

@ eb0157af:77ab6c55

A fake Uber driver steals $73,000 in XRP and $50,000 in Bitcoin after drugging an American tourist.

A U.S. citizen vacationing in the United Kingdom fell victim to a scam that cost him $123,000 in cryptocurrencies stored on his smartphone. The man was drugged by an individual posing as an Uber driver.

According to My London, Jacob Irwin-Cline had spent the evening at a London nightclub, consuming several alcoholic drinks before requesting an Uber ride home. The victim admitted he hadn’t carefully verified the booking details on his device, mistakenly getting into a private taxi driven by someone who, at first glance, resembled the expected Uber driver but was using a completely different vehicle.

Once inside the car, the American tourist reported that the driver offered him a cigarette, allegedly laced with scopolamine — a rare and powerful sedative. Irwin-Cline described how the smoke made him extremely docile and fatigued, causing him to lose consciousness for around half an hour.

Upon waking, the driver ordered the victim to get out of the vehicle. As Irwin-Cline stepped out, the man suddenly accelerated, running him over and fleeing with his mobile phone, which contained the private keys and access to his cryptocurrencies. Screenshots provided to MyLondon show that $73,000 worth of XRP and $50,000 in bitcoin had been transferred to various wallets.

This incident adds to a growing trend of kidnappings, extortions, armed robberies, and ransom attempts targeting crypto executives, investors, and their families.

Just a few weeks ago, the daughter and grandson of Pierre Noizat, CEO of crypto exchange Paymium, were targeted in a kidnapping attempt in Paris. The incident took place in broad daylight when attackers tried to force the family into a parked vehicle. However, Noizat’s daughter managed to fight off the assailants.

The post American tourist drugged and robbed: $123,000 in crypto stolen in London appeared first on Atlas21.

@ 10846a37:73b5f923

Nos últimos anos, o mercado de entretenimento online tem crescido de forma surpreendente, e plataformas como a BG77 estão se destacando por oferecer uma experiência completa, segura e empolgante para seus usuários. Com um ambiente moderno, acessível e recheado de opções interativas, a BG77 chegou ao Brasil com a missão de transformar o modo como os brasileiros se divertem online.

Conhecendo a Plataforma BG77 A BG77 é uma plataforma digital que reúne diversas modalidades de jogos interativos, voltados para quem busca emoção, estratégia e recompensas reais. Seu design é intuitivo e responsivo, facilitando o acesso tanto por computadores quanto por dispositivos móveis. O processo de cadastro é simples e rápido, permitindo que novos usuários comecem a jogar em poucos minutos.

Além disso, a segurança dos dados dos jogadores é levada a sério. A plataforma utiliza tecnologia de ponta em criptografia, garantindo que todas as informações pessoais e financeiras estejam protegidas contra qualquer tipo de acesso não autorizado.

Outro diferencial da BG77 é o suporte ao cliente. A equipe de atendimento está disponível 24 horas por dia, 7 dias por semana, para tirar dúvidas, solucionar problemas e garantir que a experiência dos jogadores seja sempre positiva.

Diversidade de Jogos para Todos os Gostos O grande destaque da BG77 está na variedade de jogos disponíveis. A plataforma oferece desde clássicos populares até títulos modernos e cheios de recursos gráficos e sonoros envolventes.

Entre os mais procurados, estão os jogos de roleta digital, onde os jogadores podem testar sua sorte e habilidades com diferentes estratégias. Também fazem parte do catálogo os emocionantes jogos de cartas, como o pôquer e o blackjack, ideais para quem gosta de pensar e planejar cada movimento.

Os amantes de slots também encontram uma vasta seleção de máquinas com temas variados, desde aventuras no Egito Antigo até mundos futuristas. Os gráficos são de altíssima qualidade, e os efeitos sonoros contribuem para uma experiência totalmente imersiva.

Outro atrativo são os jogos ao vivo, onde o jogador pode interagir em tempo real com apresentadores e outros usuários, tornando cada rodada ainda mais empolgante. Essa função reforça o compromisso da BG77 com a inovação e a interatividade.

Experiência do Jogador: Diversão com Recompensas Reais A BG77 foi criada pensando no jogador brasileiro. Por isso, toda a interface da plataforma está em português, com opções de pagamento locais como Pix, boleto bancário e transferências diretas. Isso facilita não apenas os depósitos, mas também os saques, que são processados com rapidez e eficiência.

Outro ponto importante é o sistema de recompensas e bônus. Novos usuários recebem vantagens ao se cadastrarem, e jogadores frequentes são beneficiados com promoções exclusivas, rodadas grátis e programas de fidelidade. Tudo isso contribui para manter o nível de diversão sempre elevado.

Além disso, a comunidade BG77 é bastante ativa, com rankings, torneios e desafios entre os participantes. Isso cria um ambiente competitivo e, ao mesmo tempo, amigável, onde todos têm a chance de brilhar.

Conclusão A BG77 é mais do que uma simples plataforma de jogos — é um verdadeiro universo de entretenimento digital pensado para oferecer diversão, segurança e oportunidades reais de ganho. Com sua estrutura moderna, variedade de jogos e foco total na experiência do jogador, ela se consolida como uma das melhores opções disponíveis no Brasil atualmente. Se você busca emoção, desafios e recompensas, a BG77 é o lugar ideal para começar sua jornada.

@ eb0157af:77ab6c55

Banking giants JPMorgan, Bank of America, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo are in talks to develop a unified stablecoin solution.

According to the Wall Street Journal on May 22, some of the largest financial institutions in the United States are exploring the possibility of joining forces to launch a stablecoin.

Subsidiaries of JPMorgan, Bank of America, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo have initiated preliminary discussions for a joint stablecoin issuance, according to sources close to the matter cited by the WSJ. Also at the negotiating table are Early Warning Services, the parent company of the digital payments network Zelle, and the payment network Clearing House.

The talks are reportedly still in the early stages, and any final decision could change depending on regulatory developments and market demand for stablecoins.

Stablecoin regulation

On May 20, the US Senate voted 66 to 32 to advance discussion of the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins Act (GENIUS Act), a specific law to regulate stablecoins. The bill outlines a regulatory framework for stablecoin collateralization and mandates compliance with anti-money laundering rules.

David Sacks, White House crypto advisor, expressed optimism about the bill’s bipartisan approval. However, senior Democratic Party officials intend to amend the bill to include a clause preventing former President Donald Trump and other US officials from profiting from stablecoins.

Demand for stablecoins has increased, with total market capitalization rising to $245 billion from $205 billion at the beginning of the year, a 20% increase.

The post Major US banks consider launching a joint stablecoin appeared first on Atlas21.

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Bitcoin Magazine

President Trump Supports Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Bill, Senator Lummis Says

Today at the Bitcoin 2025 Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, US Senator Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, and Senator Jim Justice of West Virginia, took the stage to give updates on federal and state level Bitcoin adoption in the United States.

JUST IN: Senator Cynthia Lummis said US military generals are "big supporters" of a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve for economic power. pic.twitter.com/2RPMV3tbdA

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) May 27, 2025

Cynthia Lummis announced that President Donald Trump is supportive of her Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Act, which would see the United States purchase 1,000,000 BTC, among other pro-Bitcoin and stablecoin legislation. 

“President Trump supports the bill,” she stated. “And he has a team in the White House working on digital assets — everything from stablecoins to market structure to Bitcoin Strategic Reserve. And they will probably roll out in that order.”

“States have always been the incubators of innovation,” Lummis said. “Senator Justice was the Governor of West Virginia, Senator Blackburn will be the next Governor of Tennessee. The states are where the innovation is occurring.”

“So you have Arizona, Texas and New Hampshire that passed Strategic Bitcoin Reserve bills this year,” she continued. “30 states consider Strategic Bitcoin Reserves. We have the United Arab Emirates purchasing Bitcoin through American exchange traded funds — that’s good for America.”

Senator Blackburn echoed Lummis’ statements, sharing her thoughts on how other countries will follow the United States in their adoption of Bitcoin.

“Many of our allies follow what we do,” Blackburn said. “Everybody wants to be a part of of our market, they want to be a part of our trade. And they will follow what we do. And as Senator Lummis said, we already see countries that are establishing these reserves. So it is vitally important that we hold this as a portion of our reserves.”

Justice emphasized that to be successful, “we have got to get the economics right. Many people ask me many times as Governor, ‘what’s the most important thing you do?’ And I’ll promise you this, it’s all about the economics.” 

Justice then went on to explain that when the average, everyday person is using Bitcoin to purchase their necessities, that legislation will start “happening at light speed”, because politicians want to get re-elected and therefore must follow the will of the people.

You can watch the full panel discussion and the rest of the Bitcoin 2025 Conference Industry Day below:

This post President Trump Supports Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Bill, Senator Lummis Says first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Nik.

@ 04c915da:3dfbecc9

This piece is the first in a series that will focus on things I think are a priority if your focus is similar to mine: building a strong family and safeguarding their future.

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Choosing the ideal place to raise a family is one of the most significant decisions you will ever make. For simplicity sake I will break down my thought process into key factors: strong property rights, the ability to grow your own food, access to fresh water, the freedom to own and train with guns, and a dependable community.

A Jurisdiction with Strong Property Rights

Strong property rights are essential and allow you to build on a solid foundation that is less likely to break underneath you. Regions with a history of limited government and clear legal protections for landowners are ideal. Personally I think the US is the single best option globally, but within the US there is a wide difference between which state you choose. Choose carefully and thoughtfully, think long term. Obviously if you are not American this is not a realistic option for you, there are other solid options available especially if your family has mobility. I understand many do not have this capability to easily move, consider that your first priority, making movement and jurisdiction choice possible in the first place.

Abundant Access to Fresh Water

Water is life. I cannot overstate the importance of living somewhere with reliable, clean, and abundant freshwater. Some regions face water scarcity or heavy regulations on usage, so prioritizing a place where water is plentiful and your rights to it are protected is critical. Ideally you should have well access so you are not tied to municipal water supplies. In times of crisis or chaos well water cannot be easily shutoff or disrupted. If you live in an area that is drought prone, you are one drought away from societal chaos. Not enough people appreciate this simple fact.

Grow Your Own Food

A location with fertile soil, a favorable climate, and enough space for a small homestead or at the very least a garden is key. In stable times, a small homestead provides good food and important education for your family. In times of chaos your family being able to grow and raise healthy food provides a level of self sufficiency that many others will lack. Look for areas with minimal restrictions, good weather, and a culture that supports local farming.

Guns

The ability to defend your family is fundamental. A location where you can legally and easily own guns is a must. Look for places with a strong gun culture and a political history of protecting those rights. Owning one or two guns is not enough and without proper training they will be a liability rather than a benefit. Get comfortable and proficient. Never stop improving your skills. If the time comes that you must use a gun to defend your family, the skills must be instinct. Practice. Practice. Practice.

A Strong Community You Can Depend On

No one thrives alone. A ride or die community that rallies together in tough times is invaluable. Seek out a place where people know their neighbors, share similar values, and are quick to lend a hand. Lead by example and become a good neighbor, people will naturally respond in kind. Small towns are ideal, if possible, but living outside of a major city can be a solid balance in terms of work opportunities and family security.

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Let me know if you found this helpful. My plan is to break down how I think about these five key subjects in future posts.

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

Bitcoin Is Here To Stay, Says Former US Treasurer Rosie Rios

At the 2025 Bitcoin Conference in Las Vegas, the Co-Manager of President Trump’s 2024 Campaign Chris LaCivita, Congressman Brian T. Jack, the Chief Policy Officer of Coinbase Faryar Shirzad and Former US Treasurer Rosie Rios at the Nakamoto stage discussed the 250th birthday of the United States, Bitcoin, freedom, and crypto.

Rosie Rios emphasized that consumer behavior is very hard to change unless there is a shock to the system. She said she is amazed by the momentum of the level of change that has happened during these four months in terms of giving that green light to innovation to actually happen.

“You are gonna hear me say a lot, the train has left the station. Bitcoin is here to stay. Blockchain is here to stay,” said Rios.

JUST IN: Former Treasurer of the United States Rosie Rios says, “#Bitcoin is here to stay.”

“The train has left the station.” pic.twitter.com/M4noy7DPha

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) May 27, 2025

“It’s about freedom and what crypto represents on a national scale,” said Chris LaCivita. “This country was founded on the entrepreneurial spirit of Americans and we are on the forefront of establishing and formulating the future of currency.”

Jack mentioned that earlier this year, they started to use a congressional tool called the Congressional Review Act that will enable them to repeal any regulation Joe Biden’s administration put on any sector during his last months in office. 

“One of the first laws that Donald Trump signed into law was the repeal of a very niche but interesting issue for some folks in the room,” stated Jack. “It was a policy that the CFPB thrust upon the industry in December that really helped them regulate, if you will, or over regulate payment processors. So a lot of the payment processors that process bitcoin, process crypto, they were going to be under these incredible burdens by CFPB.”

“The eyes of the world are watching,” commented Rosie. “We are setting the tone for what happens not just in our history but for the future and for all of us this is the American dream. This is about the values of which our country was founded.”

“For Bitcoin and Blockchain in general whoever creates that dominant digital infrastructure will set the tone for the whole global financial system and it starts here literally at this conference with this leadership with this President moving forward,” stated Rosie Rios closing the panel. 

This post Bitcoin Is Here To Stay, Says Former US Treasurer Rosie Rios first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Oscar Zarraga Perez.

@ e3ba5e1a:5e433365

Prelude

I wrote this post differently than any of my others. It started with a discussion with AI on an OPSec-inspired review of separation of powers, and evolved into quite an exciting debate! I asked Grok to write up a summary in my overall writing style, which it got pretty well. I've decided to post it exactly as-is. Ultimately, I think there are two solid ideas driving my stance here:

1. Perfect is the enemy of the good
2. Failure is the crucible of success

Beyond that, just some hard-core belief in freedom, separation of powers, and operating from self-interest.

Intro

Alright, buckle up. I’ve been chewing on this idea for a while, and it’s time to spit it out. Let’s look at the U.S. government like I’d look at a codebase under a cybersecurity audit—OPSEC style, no fluff. Forget the endless debates about what politicians should do. That’s noise. I want to talk about what they can do, the raw powers baked into the system, and why we should stop pretending those powers are sacred. If there’s a hole, either patch it or exploit it. No half-measures. And yeah, I’m okay if the whole thing crashes a bit—failure’s a feature, not a bug.

The Filibuster: A Security Rule with No Teeth

You ever see a firewall rule that’s more theater than protection? That’s the Senate filibuster. Everyone acts like it’s this untouchable guardian of democracy, but here’s the deal: a simple majority can torch it any day. It’s not a law; it’s a Senate preference, like choosing tabs over spaces. When people call killing it the “nuclear option,” I roll my eyes. Nuclear? It’s a button labeled “press me.” If a party wants it gone, they’ll do it. So why the dance?

I say stop playing games. Get rid of the filibuster. If you’re one of those folks who thinks it’s the only thing saving us from tyranny, fine—push for a constitutional amendment to lock it in. That’s a real patch, not a Post-it note. Until then, it’s just a vulnerability begging to be exploited. Every time a party threatens to nuke it, they’re admitting it’s not essential. So let’s stop pretending and move on.

Supreme Court Packing: Because Nine’s Just a Number

Here’s another fun one: the Supreme Court. Nine justices, right? Sounds official. Except it’s not. The Constitution doesn’t say nine—it’s silent on the number. Congress could pass a law tomorrow to make it 15, 20, or 42 (hitchhiker’s reference, anyone?). Packing the court is always on the table, and both sides know it. It’s like a root exploit just sitting there, waiting for someone to log in.

So why not call the bluff? If you’re in power—say, Trump’s back in the game—say, “I’m packing the court unless we amend the Constitution to fix it at nine.” Force the issue. No more shadowboxing. And honestly? The court’s got way too much power anyway. It’s not supposed to be a super-legislature, but here we are, with justices’ ideologies driving the bus. That’s a bug, not a feature. If the court weren’t such a kingmaker, packing it wouldn’t even matter. Maybe we should be talking about clipping its wings instead of just its size.

The Executive Should Go Full Klingon

Let’s talk presidents. I’m not saying they should wear Klingon armor and start shouting “Qapla’!”—though, let’s be real, that’d be awesome. I’m saying the executive should use every scrap of power the Constitution hands them. Enforce the laws you agree with, sideline the ones you don’t. If Congress doesn’t like it, they’ve got tools: pass new laws, override vetoes, or—here’s the big one—cut the budget. That’s not chaos; that’s the system working as designed.

Right now, the real problem isn’t the president overreaching; it’s the bureaucracy. It’s like a daemon running in the background, eating CPU and ignoring the user. The president’s supposed to be the one steering, but the administrative state’s got its own agenda. Let the executive flex, push the limits, and force Congress to check it. Norms? Pfft. The Constitution’s the spec sheet—stick to it.

Let the System Crash

Here’s where I get a little spicy: I’m totally fine if the government grinds to a halt. Deadlock isn’t a disaster; it’s a feature. If the branches can’t agree, let the president veto, let Congress starve the budget, let enforcement stall. Don’t tell me about “essential services.” Nothing’s so critical it can’t take a breather. Shutdowns force everyone to the table—debate, compromise, or expose who’s dropping the ball. If the public loses trust? Good. They’ll vote out the clowns or live with the circus they elected.

Think of it like a server crash. Sometimes you need a hard reboot to clear the cruft. If voters keep picking the same bad admins, well, the country gets what it deserves. Failure’s the best teacher—way better than limping along on autopilot.

States Are the Real MVPs

If the feds fumble, states step up. Right now, states act like junior devs waiting for the lead engineer to sign off. Why? Federal money. It’s a leash, and it’s tight. Cut that cash, and states will remember they’re autonomous. Some will shine, others will tank—looking at you, California. And I’m okay with that. Let people flee to better-run states. No bailouts, no excuses. States are like competing startups: the good ones thrive, the bad ones pivot or die.

Could it get uneven? Sure. Some states might turn into sci-fi utopias while others look like a post-apocalyptic vidya game. That’s the point—competition sorts it out. Citizens can move, markets adjust, and failure’s a signal to fix your act.

Chaos Isn’t the Enemy

Yeah, this sounds messy. States ignoring federal law, external threats poking at our seams, maybe even a constitutional crisis. I’m not scared. The Supreme Court’s there to referee interstate fights, and Congress sets the rules for state-to-state play. But if it all falls apart? Still cool. States can sort it without a babysitter—it’ll be ugly, but freedom’s worth it. External enemies? They’ll either unify us or break us. If we can’t rally, we don’t deserve the win.

Centralizing power to avoid this is like rewriting your app in a single thread to prevent race conditions—sure, it’s simpler, but you’re begging for a deadlock. Decentralized chaos lets states experiment, lets people escape, lets markets breathe. States competing to cut regulations to attract businesses? That’s a race to the bottom for red tape, but a race to the top for innovation—workers might gripe, but they’ll push back, and the tension’s healthy. Bring it—let the cage match play out. The Constitution’s checks are enough if we stop coddling the system.

Why This Matters

I’m not pitching a utopia. I’m pitching a stress test. The U.S. isn’t a fragile porcelain doll; it’s a rugged piece of hardware built to take some hits. Let it fail a little—filibuster, court, feds, whatever. Patch the holes with amendments if you want, or lean into the grind. Either way, stop fearing the crash. It’s how we debug the republic.

So, what’s your take? Ready to let the system rumble, or got a better way to secure the code? Hit me up—I’m all ears.

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

Lyn Ulbricht Launches MACS at the 2025 Bitcoin Conference to Fight Cruel Sentencing

In a powerful statement against unjust sentencing, Mothers Against Cruel Sentencing (MACS), a nonprofit founded by Lyn Ulbricht, officially launched today at the 2025 Bitcoin conference. The group is dedicated to advocating for prisoners serving excessive and inhumane sentences and supporting the families affected by such punishments.

MACS seeks to unite voices from across the political divide and tech community to drive meaningful reform in sentencing laws.

“Multiple thousands of people, many of them nonviolent like Ross, are serving extreme sentences—locked away for years, decades, even lifetimes,” said Ulbricht. “MACS aims to give families a voice to push for fair and reasonable sentencing, where the punishment fits the crime.”

Ulbricht will formally introduce the organization during the Women of Bitcoin Brunch, a major event at the conference that gathers influential women from the Bitcoin world to discuss advocacy, innovation, and impact.

Ross Ulbricht’s Journey: From Life Sentence to Presidential Pardon

Ross Ulbricht became a controversial figure after launching Silk Road in 2011, an online marketplace that used Bitcoin for anonymous transactions. While the site was unfortunately used for selling illegal drugs, it also served as Bitcoin’s first real-world use case, showcasing the power of decentralized, censorship-resistant money.

In 2015, Ulbricht was sentenced to double life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. His punishment quickly became a symbol of government overreach for many in the tech and the Bitcoin world. Critics argued that his sentence far exceeded the limits of justice, especially considering the nonviolent nature of his crimes.

His pardon, announced shortly after Trump returned to office, is seen as a strong move to honor campaign promises and support Bitcoin’s values of personal freedom and resistance to government overreach. It sparked celebration throughout the Bitcoin community but also reminded advocates that the fight for justice is far from over.

The Bitcoin community continues to call for clemency and support for others, including the developers of Samourai Wallet who are facing prosecution for creating privacy tools, and Edward Snowden, who remains in exile for revealing government surveillance programs.

Ross will be giving the keynotes speech at the 2025 Bitcoin Conference on May 29th at 8pm EST. You can watch his speech live here.

This post Lyn Ulbricht Launches MACS at the 2025 Bitcoin Conference to Fight Cruel Sentencing first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Oscar Zarraga Perez.

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

JD Vance Says “Bitcoin Finally Has a Champion in the White House”

In a headline speech at the Bitcoin 2025 Conference today, U.S. Vice President JD Vance declared Bitcoin’s growing role in national policy and promised a new era of federal support under the Trump administration. “It’s great to be here with Bitcoin at $108k and to be the Vice President of the United States,” Vance opened. “This isn’t a conference of people. This is a movement.” 

Thanking David Bailey, and key figures like Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, Vance emphasized, “They took a big step and everyone else followed.” He also shouted out Coinbase for their participation at the event as well.  

In sharp contrast to past administrations, Vance was clear: “What we’ve done in the Trump administration in digital asset policy is only the beginning. Crypto finally has a champion and an ally in the White House.” 

JUST IN: Vice President JD Vance said they’re going to fire every regulator like Gary Gensler. pic.twitter.com/awHYMEMQAg

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) May 28, 2025

Vance underscored the grassroots energy of the Bitcoin community: “This gets decided by the people, by you—not unelected bureaucrats.”

He laid out three key priorities for the administration, the first being Widespread Adoption – “Fifty million Americans own Bitcoin. I think it’s gonna be 100 million before too long.” The second being Legislative Support– “We are optimistic the Senate will pass the clean GENIUS Act. Stablecoins don’t threaten the U.S. dollar—they’re a force multiplier for the economic mission.” And third, Clear Regulation – “We need a transparent regulatory framework that incorporates Bitcoin into the mainstream economy.”

Referencing broader concerns about institutional overreach, Vance said, “Crypto is a hedge against bad policymaking in Washington.” 

Promising protection and partnership from Washington, he vowed, “You deserve respect and support from your government—not bureaucrats trying to tear you down. We are ending the weaponization of federal agencies against this community.” 

Vance concluded stating, “Bitcoin is digital gold, but none of you are—unless you get involved,” discussing how Bitcoin is here to stay, but only if the American people get involved and build the industry. “Where Bitcoin is going is strategically important to the U.S. We’re gonna make the right decisions, and that depends on you being a part of the conversation.”

The message that Vance made was abundantly clear. Bitcoin is in the hands of the American people, and it is up to the citizens to make a lasting impact with it.

This post JD Vance Says “Bitcoin Finally Has a Champion in the White House” first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Jenna Montgomery.

@ 83279ad2:bd49240d

a

@ 10846a37:73b5f923

A plataforma 711BRL tem se destacado como uma das grandes promessas do entretenimento digital no Brasil. Com um visual moderno, navegação intuitiva e um catálogo impressionante de jogos, a 711BRL oferece uma experiência diferenciada para jogadores que buscam diversão, praticidade e segurança em um só lugar.

Uma Plataforma Moderna e Confiável Desde o primeiro acesso, é possível notar que a 711BRL foi desenvolvida com foco na experiência do usuário. O site é rápido, responsivo e compatível com todos os tipos de dispositivos, como computadores, tablets e smartphones. Isso permite que os jogadores aproveitem todos os recursos da plataforma em qualquer lugar, a qualquer momento.

A segurança também é um dos pilares da 711brl. A plataforma utiliza tecnologia de criptografia de ponta para proteger os dados pessoais e financeiros dos usuários, além de contar com métodos de pagamento amplamente conhecidos no Brasil, como PIX, boletos bancários e carteiras digitais. Tudo isso garante tranquilidade para quem deseja jogar sem preocupações.

Catálogo Variado de Jogos Um dos grandes atrativos da 711BRL é a diversidade de jogos disponíveis. A plataforma reúne títulos dos principais desenvolvedores do mercado, com gráficos de alta qualidade, trilhas sonoras envolventes e mecânicas inovadoras. Entre os destaques, estão:

Jogos de slots: Com temas variados, desde aventuras mitológicas até histórias futuristas, os slots são ideais para quem gosta de dinamismo e surpresas a cada rodada.

Jogos de mesa: Para quem prefere desafios estratégicos, a 711BRL oferece diferentes versões de roleta, blackjack e bacará, entre outros clássicos do entretenimento digital.

Jogos ao vivo: Com interações em tempo real com apresentadores profissionais, essa modalidade proporciona uma experiência imersiva, onde o jogador se sente parte da ação.

Além disso, a plataforma atualiza seu catálogo constantemente, trazendo novidades e lançamentos para manter a experiência sempre renovada.

Experiência do Jogador em Primeiro Lugar Outro diferencial da 711BRL é o cuidado com o jogador. A plataforma conta com um atendimento ao cliente eficiente, disponível 24 horas por dia, sete dias por semana, por meio de chat ao vivo e e-mail. A equipe está sempre pronta para tirar dúvidas, resolver problemas e orientar os usuários em qualquer etapa do processo.

A navegação é intuitiva, com menus bem organizados e filtros que facilitam a busca pelos jogos favoritos. Novos usuários encontram tutoriais e guias explicativos, o que ajuda muito na adaptação inicial e permite que todos aproveitem ao máximo cada funcionalidade oferecida.

Para completar, a 711BRL promove campanhas promocionais frequentes, com bônus de boas-vindas, rodadas grátis e sorteios exclusivos, sempre com regras claras e acessíveis. Isso contribui para uma experiência mais empolgante e recompensadora.

Conclusão A 711BRL é mais do que uma simples plataforma de jogos: é um ambiente completo de entretenimento online, que une tecnologia, variedade e suporte de qualidade. Ideal para jogadores iniciantes e experientes, o site oferece tudo o que é necessário para uma jornada divertida, segura e cheia de possibilidades. Se você busca uma nova forma de se divertir online, a 711BRL é, sem dúvidas, uma excelente escolha.

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

White House Executive Director Bo Hines Declares U.S. The Future Global Crypto Superpower

In a session at the Bitcoin 2025 Conference this morning titled “_Making America the Global Bitcoin Superpower“_, Bo Hines, White House Executive Director, Tyler Williams, from the US Treasury Department, and moderator Miles Jennings made one thing clear: the United States is going all-in on Bitcoin—and fast. 

JUST IN: President Trump's Executive Director said "Bitcoin is the golden standard."

"We're not gonna sell any Bitcoin that we possible have in the US government, period." pic.twitter.com/F6Dv2nUk9b

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) May 27, 2025

“We are well on our way to becoming the bitcoin superpower of the world,” said Bo Hines. “This is something that is not partisan. This is a revolution in our financial system.” 

Moderator Miles Jennings pointed to key regulatory steps currently in motion. “If the bill becomes law (and I hope it does) we will have quite an active role. The connective tissue between the legacy financial system and bitcoin, stablecoins, and everything else will really be paved with stablecoin legislation,” Jennings said.

Hines emphasized that, “Updating the payment rails is necessary and we are well on our way to achieving that.” He also noted that upcoming market structure legislation will define how intermediaries like exchanges and brokers are regulated and how digital assets are classified—either as securities or commodities. 

“We want folks to innovate here,” Hines stressed. “We can’t be fearful of them walking into the SEC and getting a Wells notice before they get on the elevator.” He added that U.S. regulators are now encouraging crypto innovators to return: “Our message to folks who have gone offshore is: welcome home_._” 

Williams highlighted that any new laws must reflect the unique architecture of decentralized finance. “Traditional markets are based on a principal-agent model,” he explained. “But crypto moves us toward a principal-to-principal structure.”

He noted that after regulatory support for the ETP marketplace, institutional Bitcoin adoption surged—and believes the same would happen again under stablecoin and market structure legislation. 

The most bullish comment of the morning came from Hines: “Bitcoin is truly the golden standard… This is an asset that we should be harnessing on behalf of the American people. We want as much as we can possibly get.” 

“We are going big on digital assets,” added Tyler. “You will certainly see the United States stepping out as the bitcoin superpower of the world,” Hines concluded. 

You can watch the full panel discussion and the rest of the Bitcoin 2025 Conference Industry Day below:
https://www.youtube.com/live/3e3KE40r_WM?si=LCZcZeKbxi_iTk62

This post White House Executive Director Bo Hines Declares U.S. The Future Global Crypto Superpower first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Jenna Montgomery.

@ 83279ad2:bd49240d

a

@ d3d74124:a4eb7b1d

language is a funny thing. the English grammar is one of the most, if the not THE most complicated grammars to learn.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_Language_Aptitude_Battery\ DLAB. it's the test you take to see if you have a gift for language learning.

in my exploration of languages, first Chinese Mandarin, then software languages, context is king (Jesus is King). the surrounding context is different every where you go.

physical space context. we can't be two places at once. nostr allows for many languages, because you can provide your own digital context. our physical perspective give us a field of view. NOSTR clients give us a field of view into digital context.

math is a language.

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bitcoin will be called a lot of things.

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wizardry

some elections results are anchored in time. using bitcoin. what else should be? legal documents seem obvious. other cryptographic proofs.

zero knowledge proofs. something about curve trees.

Find your local BitDevs.

Shenandoah Bitcoin Club

pondering a Veteran's Day live music event in Frederick County, VA. who would show up to a lunch and learn with hardware wallets in testnet4 mode? to try shit out? local only, but you should do it where you are too if you're not local.

mining

getting better? Bitmain announces a "decentralized mining pool" but I doubt we'll see open source code if history follows. 256Foundation getting to business. working prototypes for the Ember One using USB and python are out there for those that know where to look. i am very bullish on mujina. very bullish. fun coinbase tricks happening too with CTV+CSFS.

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p.s. written on primal's new article publishing UI.

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

Bitcoin Enters a New Era: Industry Leaders Predict Trillions in Institutional Inflows

At the 2025 Bitcoin Conference in Las Vegas, the Founder and CEO of Kelly Intelligence Kevin Kelly, the Chief Executive Officer of Bitwise Asset Management Hunter Horsley, the CEO of BitGo Mike Belshe and the Advisor of WBTC Justin Sun talked about the future of financial products in the globe. 

Hunter Horsley started the panel by saying that we are entering a new chapter in 2025 with the change in the regulatory circumstances.

“In the US wealth managers manage between 30 and 60 trillion dollars,” said Horsley. “If wealth managers wind up allocating 1% to the space on behalf of their clients, helping their clients access the opportunities here that are hundreds and billions of dollars.”

JUST IN: $12 billion Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley says if wealth managers allocate 1% to #Bitcoin, “that's hundreds of billions of dollars.” pic.twitter.com/4OhoBjwDYR

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) May 27, 2025

Justin Sun emphasized the importance of integrating Bitcoin into decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms:

“Raw Bitcoin is a way to get your Bitcoin into a smart contract platform,” said Sun. “You can use your Bitcoin as collateral you borrow like stablecoin, you borrow other major crypto currencies tokens and also of course generate yield on the Bitcoin you are holding because Bitcoin is a proof of network.”

“Any transaction you can see in the blockchain and all the reserve addresses is available on the Blockchain. It’s safe and transparent and at the same time is smart,” stated Sun.

Mike Belshe elaborated on the foundational elements that make a stablecoin successful, particularly when Bitcoin is used in that context.

“What makes a good stablecoin whether you are talking about dollars or Bitcoin, it’s the liquidity that you have on the market around the world,” stated Belshe.

Horsley continued by addressing that we’ll see more companies adopting this and hundreds of thousands of Bitcoin being put onto more balance sheets. 

“Corporations are buying Bitcoin,” commented Horsley. “It’s an extraordinary theme of this year. As of the first quarter of this year, 79 publicly traded companies had put Bitcoin on their balance sheet. Over 600k Bitcoin and there is only 21 million Bitcoin. It’s a lot of Bitcoin”

Justin Sun closed the panel by stating, “the progress we are making here in the United States really matters because as we all further encourage people around the world to get into the Bitcoin industry.”

“Once Bitcoin passes this kind of stage and gets institution adoption in the United States will accelerate that option globally,” said Sun.

This post Bitcoin Enters a New Era: Industry Leaders Predict Trillions in Institutional Inflows first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Oscar Zarraga Perez.

@ ece127e2:745bab9c

vamos a ver que tal

---

*lo bueno es que si entro en https://makimono.lumilumi.app/ a la nota y agrego contenido , como éste ...quiero ver si lo añade o hace una nueva nota ?? *

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

Cowbolt Announces Their Mission to Make Bitcoin Familiar to Everybody

Today at the Bitcoin Conference in Las Vegas, Cowbolt, an app that lets you split expense payments and settle in bitcoin, will launch their mission: turn peer-to-peer payments into a Bitcoin onramp, starting with family and friends.

Cowbolt will let their clients split costs and settle instantly using Bitcoin and USDT, with no middlemen, no bank friction and with self-custody. They will try to convert everyday transactions into Bitcoin adoption. 

“We believe the most powerful onramp to Bitcoin isn’t an exchange — it’s people,” said the co-founder of Cowbolt Daniel Ekström. “That’s why we built Cowbolt. For friends, not hedge funds.”

What Cowbolt will bring to the table:

• Split and settle.
• Keep your keys.
• Fast and trusted.
• Works across borders.

The app is already being used for remittances, group travel, and day-to-day payments. It’s designed to be like a modern fintech app and will be available for iOS and Android. 

“Building Airbnb taught me that when design is simple and gets out of the way, people do amazing things,” stated the ex-Creative Director at Airbnb & co-founder Cowbolt Tony Högqvist. “That’s the point here too. Not to store bitcoin in an ETF, but to use it between people. Effortlessly. Among teams, friends, families — every day.”

This post Cowbolt Announces Their Mission to Make Bitcoin Familiar to Everybody first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Oscar Zarraga Perez.

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

US Senator Cynthia Lummis Discusses Bitcoin Reserve, Stablecoin Legislation, and Market Structure Bill at Bitcoin 2025 Conference

At the 2025 Bitcoin Conference in Las Vegas, U.S Senator Cynthia Lummis and CLO of Coinbase Paul Grewal discussed the market structure bill, stablecoin bill, future taxing system, bitcoin strategy reserve and bitcoin mining. 

Cynthia Lummis started by commenting about the market structure bill and stablecoin bill.

“The market structure bills is probably more important to a lot of the people in this conference than the stablecoin bill because there are a lot of businesses, yours among them,” said Lummis. “There are businesses for people who either buy and hold, so they want a custodial service or there are companies that lend Bitcoin, there is a futures market for Bitcoin, there are so many ways in which Bitcoin can interface with fiat currency with the US dollar.”

Lummis also mentioned the tax system that she wants to implement and what her office has submitted to the finance committee.

“As the lighting network develops and companies like Strike sort of have been leaders in that space,” added Lummis. “Create an opportunity for transactions to occur on a daily basis in Bitcoin. Everything from buying a cup of coffee to dinner somewhere. It would be helpful that certain transactions of that size below 600 dollars per transaction, not be subject to taxation.” 

During her speech, she went into detail on one the biggest problems lawmakers are facing against digital assets.

“Part of the problem in the last four years has been largely regulatory agencies that have been very hostile towards digital assets, so we are trying to change as fast as we can,” said Lummis. “It doesn’t happen overnight. We don’t even have a confirmed IRS director in place yet, so it is really hard to get these structural changes enacted by the rule makers at the IRS when there is no IRS commission yet in place.” 

Ending the panel, Lummis addressed one of the biggest reasons the US government should get into Bitcoin. 

“We are 37 trillion dollars in debt, so if we bought and held a million Bitcoin for 20 years it will cut that debt in half and we have underperforming assets that can be converted to Bitcoin without borrowing additional money. Bitcoin is such an important Global Strategic asset and it is not only important in the economy, but in our global defense because there are components to our defense. One is having a lethal war fighting machine that can overcome other armies, another military effort. Another one is having an economic machine that can overcome other currencies.” She continued, “Even our military generals say that bitcoin is an important deterrent to aggression from other countries, especially from China.”  

This post US Senator Cynthia Lummis Discusses Bitcoin Reserve, Stablecoin Legislation, and Market Structure Bill at Bitcoin 2025 Conference first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Oscar Zarraga Perez.

@ 502ab02a:a2860397

เรามาดู แลคเชอร์ประวัติศาสตร์ ที่พลิกโลกแห่งการเกษตรและอาหารของมนุษย์ชาติกันครับ เรามาดูความแยบยลที่สามารถจูงใจคนมากมายให้เห็นถึงข้อดีของเนื้อจากแลบ เขาทำได้ยังไง เรามาศึกษาการสื่อสารกันครับ

เรื่องมันเริ่มจากการประชุม World Economic Forum ปี 2015 ที่ศาสตราจารย์ Mark Post นักเภสัชวิทยาชาวดัตช์ ที่เรารู้จักกันไปแล้ว ซึ่งตอนนั้นเป็นศาสตราจารย์ด้านสรีรวิทยาของหลอดเลือดอยู่ที่ Maastricht University และเป็นผู้ร่วมก่อตั้งบริษัท Mosa Meat ได้ลุกขึ้นมาเล่าเรื่อง "เนื้อเพาะเลี้ยง" หรือ cultured meat ให้คนทั้งห้องฟัง

สิ่งที่เขาพูดมันไม่ใช่แค่นวัตกรรมใหม่ แต่คือคำเตือนที่จริงจัง ว่าถ้ามนุษย์ยังผลิตเนื้อสัตว์แบบเดิม เรากำลังวิ่งเข้าใกล้ปัญหาใหญ่ที่รออยู่ข้างหน้า

ศาสตราจารย์ Post เล่าไว้ได้น่าสนใจมาก เขาบอกว่าแค่จะได้แฮมเบอร์เกอร์ 1 ชิ้นขนาดหนึ่งในสี่ปอนด์ เราต้องใช้เมล็ดธัญพืช 7 ปอนด์ ใช้น้ำจืด 50 แกลลอน และพื้นที่ดินอีก 70 ตารางฟุต นั่นแปลว่าเรากำลังเปลี่ยนของดีในธรรมชาติ ข้าว น้ำ ดิน ไปเป็นของที่กินหมดใน 10 นาที แล้วหิวใหม่ได้ในอีกครึ่งชั่วโมง

เหตุผลก็เพราะวัวมันไม่ได้แปลงโปรตีนพืชมาเป็นเนื้อได้มีประสิทธิภาพนัก พูดอีกแบบคือ มันเปลืองเกินไป

ตอนนี้พื้นที่เพาะปลูกของโลกกว่า 70% ถูกใช้ไปในการผลิตเนื้อสัตว์ คิดดูสิว่าถ้าเราหาทางที่ดีกว่านี้ได้ เราจะมีพื้นที่ว่างกลับคืนมาแค่ไหน

แถมวัวไม่ใช่แค่กินเก่งนะ ยังปล่อยก๊าซเก่งด้วย โดยเฉพาะมีเทนที่ทำให้โลกร้อนพอๆ กับอุตสาหกรรมการขนส่งเลยทีเดียว ศาสตราจารย์ Post เล่าว่า ทุกครั้งที่เขาเห็นวัวยืนเคี้ยวหญ้า เขาไม่ได้เห็นแค่วัว...แต่เห็นเมฆก๊าซมีเทนลอยมาด้วย

และที่น่าคิดคือ เมื่อรายได้ของคนในอินเดียหรือจีนสูงขึ้น พวกเขาจะกินเนื้อเพิ่มตามรายได้ ซึ่งสถิติบอกว่าภายในปี 2050 ความต้องการเนื้อสัตว์จะเพิ่มขึ้นเป็น สองเท่า จากปัจจุบัน

แต่ศาสตราจารย์ก็ไม่ได้มองว่าเนื้อเป็นปีศาจ เขาบอกว่า มนุษย์ถูกสร้างมาให้รักเนื้อ เนื้อคือสิ่งที่มาพร้อมวิวัฒนาการ เราได้พลังงานจากมัน สมองเราใหญ่ขึ้นเพราะมัน และกลายเป็นมนุษย์เพราะมัน

แม้จะมีคนอีกกว่าสองพันล้านที่เป็นมังสวิรัติ ส่วนใหญ่อาจเพราะไม่มีทางเลือก แต่อย่างน้อยพวกเขาก็อยู่รอดได้ แต่ก็ปฏิเสธไม่ได้ว่า คนที่เคยล่า เคยกินเนื้อ จะรู้สึกตื่นเต้นทุกครั้งที่ได้แบ่งเนื้อกันบนโต๊ะ

ศาสตราจารย์ Post เองก็ยังชอบกินเนื้อ แต่เขาอยากได้เนื้อที่ได้มาจากทางเลือกที่ดีกว่า ไม่ใช่ทางที่พาโลกเข้า ICU

เนื้อเพาะเลี้ยงเริ่มจากหลักการง่ายๆ ที่เรารู้มาตั้งแต่ช่วงปี 2000 ว่า ในกล้ามเนื้อของสัตว์มี สเต็มเซลล์ รอคอยจะซ่อมแซมเนื้อเยื่อหากมันได้รับบาดเจ็บ

แค่เอาชิ้นกล้ามเนื้อเล็กๆ จากวัว ขนาดแค่ 1 ซม. x 1 มม. มาแยกสเต็มเซลล์ออกมาเลี้ยงให้ขยายตัว

เฮียว่าอันนี้น่าทึ่งมาก เพราะจากตัวอย่างเล็กๆ ชิ้นเดียว สามารถผลิตเนื้อวัวได้ถึง 10,000 กิโลกรัม เลยนะ!

แปลว่าเราสามารถลดจำนวนวัวทั้งโลกจากครึ่งพันล้านตัว เหลือแค่ประมาณ 30,000 ตัวได้เลย

และถ้าให้เซลล์กล้ามเนื้อพวกนี้อยู่ในสภาพแวดล้อมที่เหมาะสม มันก็จะเริ่มสร้างกล้ามเนื้อขึ้นมาเอง โดยเฉพาะถ้าเรากระตุ้นให้มันรู้สึกเหมือนกำลัง “ออกกำลัง” อยู่ เช่น ใส่แรงตึงเข้าไป

ทีมนักวิจัยของเขาเลี้ยงเซลล์เหล่านี้ให้เติบโตในรูปวงแหวนคล้ายโดนัท ครบ 3 สัปดาห์ กล้ามเนื้อจะเริ่มหดตัว สร้างความตึง และกลายเป็นเนื้อกล้ามเนื้อแบบเต็มตัวที่ดูไม่ต่างจากกล้ามเนื้อในสเต็กจริงๆ เลย

ปี 2013 ทีมของ Mark Post ผลิตเส้นใยกล้ามเนื้อจำนวน 10,000 เส้น เอามาทำแฮมเบอร์เกอร์ และนำไปเปิดตัวในงานแถลงข่าวที่ลอนดอน เป็นเหมือนการโชว์ทำอาหารผสมกับเปิดงานวิจัย

จุดประสงค์คือจะพิสูจน์ให้โลกเห็นว่า “เฮ้ย! สิ่งนี้ไม่ใช่แค่ไอเดียลอยๆ แต่มันทำได้จริง และจำเป็นต้องทำจริงๆ เพราะเรากำลังจะเจอวิกฤต”

ราคาแฮมเบอร์เกอร์ตอนนั้นคือ 250,000 ยูโร

มีเชฟผู้กล้าปรุง และอาสาสมัครสองคนลองชิม พวกเขาบอกว่า “ก็โอเคในฐานะเบอร์เกอร์ราคาเท่านี้ แต่ก็อยากได้รสเข้มกว่านี้หน่อย” เพราะยังไม่มีไขมัน เลยรสจืดไปหน่อย

แต่ที่สำคัญคือ พวกเขายืนยันว่า “มันคือเนื้อจริงๆ” ทั้งเนื้อสัมผัสและโครงสร้าง

แค่มีต้นแบบยังไม่พอ เพราะจะทำให้ขายได้จริง ต้องผ่านด่านสำคัญ เนื้อต้องผลิตได้โดยใช้ทรัพยากรน้อยกว่าการเลี้ยงวัวจริง การประเมินเบื้องต้นจาก University of Oxford พบว่า เนื้อเพาะเลี้ยงใช้พื้นที่น้อยลง 90% น้ำลดลง 90% พลังงานลดลง 60–70%

ทุกอย่างที่ใช้ในการเลี้ยงเซลล์ต้องมีจำนวนมากพอหรือหมุนเวียนใช้ได้ ที่น่าหนักใจคือ การเลี้ยงเซลล์ต้องใช้ “ซีรั่มจากลูกวัว” ซึ่งได้มาจากเลือดวัว ถ้าลดจำนวนวัว เราก็ไม่มีซีรั่ม แต่ตอนนี้มีงานพัฒนาไปเยอะแล้ว กำลังหาวิธีทำเซลล์กล้ามเนื้อโดยไม่ต้องพึ่งซีรั่มจากสัตว์

ไม่ใช่แค่โปรตีน แต่ต้องเป็น "เนื้อ" ในทุกความรู้สึก นักวิจัยพยายามปรับสภาพแวดล้อมการเพาะเลี้ยง เช่น ความเข้มข้นของออกซิเจน เพื่อให้เซลล์แสดงโปรตีนสำคัญ เช่น myoglobin ที่ทำให้เนื้อมีสีและรสชาติเหมือนเนื้อจริง

การยอมรับของผู้บริโภคเป็นอีกด่านสำคัญที่เนื้อเพาะเลี้ยงต้องข้ามผ่านให้ได้ ไม่ใช่แค่เรื่องรสชาติหรือคุณค่าทางโภชนาการเท่านั้น แต่ยังเป็นเรื่องของ "ใจ" ที่ต้องเปิดรับสิ่งใหม่ที่ไม่คุ้นเคย ศาสตราจารย์ Post เล่าว่า ในการสำรวจผู้บริโภคในอังกฤษและเนเธอร์แลนด์ พบว่ามีคนไม่น้อยที่ยินดีจะลองกินเนื้อเพาะเลี้ยง ถึง 52% ของชาวดัตช์ และ 60% ของชาวอังกฤษเลยทีเดียว

เขาเปรียบเทียบว่า จริงๆ แล้ว คนเรายอมกินฮอทดอกโดยไม่รู้ด้วยซ้ำว่าทำมาจากอะไร หรือผ่านอะไรมาบ้าง ขอแค่มัน "อร่อย ถูก และดูปลอดภัย" ก็เพียงพอแล้วสำหรับคนส่วนใหญ่ ดังนั้นเนื้อเพาะเลี้ยงจึงไม่ต่างกันมากนัก ขอเพียงให้คนรู้สึกว่า “กินแล้วไม่ตาย” และ “ไม่ได้แปลกจนใจฝ่อ” เท่านั้นแหละ วันหนึ่งมันก็จะกลายเป็นของธรรมดาในตู้เย็นเหมือนกับโยเกิร์ตหรือไส้กรอกนั่นเอง

ในด้านของราคา แม้จะยังไม่ถูกเท่าไส้กรอกในซูเปอร์ แต่ก็ลดลงมาไกลจากจุดเริ่มต้นแบบสุดๆ จากชิ้นต้นแบบราคา 250,000 ดอลลาร์ในปี 2013 ตอนนี้ต้นทุนลดลงมาเหลือประมาณ 65 ดอลลาร์ต่อกิโลกรัม (ยังไม่รวมเทคโนโลยีล้ำหน้าอื่นๆ ที่กำลังพัฒนาอยู่) ซึ่งก็ถือว่าอยู่ในระดับเดียวกับเนื้อวากิวหรือสเต๊กเกรดพรีเมียมเลยทีเดียว เป้าหมายคือทำให้ถูกลงอีก และผลิตได้ในระดับอุตสาหกรรมให้เพียงพอกับคนทั้งโลก ไม่ใช่ของฟุ่มเฟือยสำหรับคนรวยเท่านั้น

แต่วิสัยทัศน์ที่น่าสนใจจริงๆ คือ ภาพของอนาคตที่ศาสตราจารย์ Post วาดไว้ เขาเชื่อว่าเทคโนโลยีนี้เรียบง่ายพอที่จะขยายไปสู่ครัวเรือนหรือชุมชนเล็กๆ ได้ วันหนึ่งเราอาจได้เห็นการเพาะเลี้ยงเซลล์จากหมูที่เลี้ยงอยู่ข้างบ้าน แล้วเอาไปปั่นเป็นหมูสับแบบสดใหม่ ไม่ต้องฆ่าสัตว์ ไม่ต้องส่งโรงงาน ไม่ต้องตัดต่อพันธุกรรม แค่นั่งรอเหมือนหมักแป้งเปรี้ยว แล้วได้เนื้อสดๆ มาใส่ต้มจืด

และนั่นแหละคือ "การเปลี่ยนกรอบคิดเรื่องเนื้อสัตว์" แบบพลิกฝ่ามือ

มันจะไม่ใช่เรื่องการฆ่าอีกต่อไป ไม่ใช่เรื่องของฟาร์มกลิ่นฉี่ หรือสายพานโรงฆ่าสัตว์ มันจะเป็น "ผลิตภัณฑ์ใหม่" ที่เราสร้างได้ ควบคุมได้ และปรับแต่งได้ เช่น เพิ่มโอเมก้า 3 ในเซลล์ไขมันให้สูงขึ้น หรือทำให้เนื้อไม่มีคอเลสเตอรอลเลยก็ยังได้

แม้ศาสตราจารย์ Post จะเน้นเรื่องความมั่นคงทางอาหารและผลกระทบต่อสิ่งแวดล้อมเป็นหลัก แต่เขาก็ยอมรับว่า สำหรับคนกินทั่วๆ ไป ประเด็นที่ "ไม่มีสัตว์ต้องเจ็บปวด" จะกลายเป็นจุดขายที่สำคัญในใจของผู้บริโภค

เขาเชื่อว่า เมื่อวันนั้นมาถึง วันที่เรายืนอยู่หน้าตู้แช่ในซูเปอร์ แล้วเห็นผลิตภัณฑ์สองชิ้นวางข้างกัน — หนึ่งคือเนื้อวัวที่มาจากฟาร์ม และอีกหนึ่งคือเนื้อเพาะเลี้ยงที่ไม่เคยมีวัวต้องร้องไห้แม้แต่นิดเดียว — การตัดสินใจอาจจะไม่ง่าย แต่ "จะมีคนจำนวนมากขึ้นเรื่อยๆ ที่เลือกแบบไม่ต้องฆ่า"

เพราะสุดท้าย เราไม่ได้แค่กินเนื้อ… เรากำลังกิน “ความเชื่อ” ลงไปด้วย #pirateketo #กูต้องรู้มั๊ย #ม้วนหางสิลูก #siamstr

ใครสนใจดูคลิปก็กดตรงนี้ได้ครับ https://youtu.be/1lI9AwxKfTY?si=6CDBUl2yGBoHWc-P

@ 000002de:c05780a7

With all the free press Steak `n Shake is getting for accepting bitcoin this post got me thinking about good burgers at fast food chains. There are incredible non-fast food burgers and local places but I'm limiting this to chains.

In order if you are going for a chain fast food American burgers here's the list in order.

1. In-n-Out
2. Shake Shack
3. Habit Burger & Grill
4. Five Guys

Everything else is not worth mentioning or I'm not aware of it due to where I live and have traveled.

What's your list.

Bonus:

Which of these or you picks will be next in accepting bitcoin.

https://stacker.news/items/991559

@ 91bea5cd:1df4451c

Básico

bash lsblk # Lista todos os diretorios montados.

Para criar o sistema de arquivos:

bash mkfs.btrfs -L "ThePool" -f /dev/sdx

Criando um subvolume:

bash btrfs subvolume create SubVol

Montando Sistema de Arquivos:

bash mount -o compress=zlib,subvol=SubVol,autodefrag /dev/sdx /mnt

Lista os discos formatados no diretório:

bash btrfs filesystem show /mnt

Adiciona novo disco ao subvolume:

bash btrfs device add -f /dev/sdy /mnt

Lista novamente os discos do subvolume:

bash btrfs filesystem show /mnt

Exibe uso dos discos do subvolume:

bash btrfs filesystem df /mnt

Balancea os dados entre os discos sobre raid1:

bash btrfs filesystem balance start -dconvert=raid1 -mconvert=raid1 /mnt

Scrub é uma passagem por todos os dados e metadados do sistema de arquivos e verifica as somas de verificação. Se uma cópia válida estiver disponível (perfis de grupo de blocos replicados), a danificada será reparada. Todas as cópias dos perfis replicados são validadas.

iniciar o processo de depuração :

bash btrfs scrub start /mnt

ver o status do processo de depuração Btrfs em execução:

bash btrfs scrub status /mnt

ver o status do scrub Btrfs para cada um dos dispositivos

bash btrfs scrub status -d / data btrfs scrub cancel / data

Para retomar o processo de depuração do Btrfs que você cancelou ou pausou:

btrfs scrub resume / data

Listando os subvolumes:

bash btrfs subvolume list /Reports

Criando um instantâneo dos subvolumes:

Aqui, estamos criando um instantâneo de leitura e gravação chamado snap de marketing do subvolume de marketing.

bash btrfs subvolume snapshot /Reports/marketing /Reports/marketing-snap

Além disso, você pode criar um instantâneo somente leitura usando o sinalizador -r conforme mostrado. O marketing-rosnap é um instantâneo somente leitura do subvolume de marketing

bash btrfs subvolume snapshot -r /Reports/marketing /Reports/marketing-rosnap

Forçar a sincronização do sistema de arquivos usando o utilitário 'sync'

Para forçar a sincronização do sistema de arquivos, invoque a opção de sincronização conforme mostrado. Observe que o sistema de arquivos já deve estar montado para que o processo de sincronização continue com sucesso.

bash btrfs filsystem sync /Reports

Para excluir o dispositivo do sistema de arquivos, use o comando device delete conforme mostrado.

bash btrfs device delete /dev/sdc /Reports

Para sondar o status de um scrub, use o comando scrub status com a opção -dR .

bash btrfs scrub status -dR / Relatórios

Para cancelar a execução do scrub, use o comando scrub cancel .

bash $ sudo btrfs scrub cancel / Reports

Para retomar ou continuar com uma depuração interrompida anteriormente, execute o comando de cancelamento de depuração

bash sudo btrfs scrub resume /Reports

mostra o uso do dispositivo de armazenamento:

btrfs filesystem usage /data

Para distribuir os dados, metadados e dados do sistema em todos os dispositivos de armazenamento do RAID (incluindo o dispositivo de armazenamento recém-adicionado) montados no diretório /data , execute o seguinte comando:

sudo btrfs balance start --full-balance /data

Pode demorar um pouco para espalhar os dados, metadados e dados do sistema em todos os dispositivos de armazenamento do RAID se ele contiver muitos dados.

Opções importantes de montagem Btrfs

Nesta seção, vou explicar algumas das importantes opções de montagem do Btrfs. Então vamos começar.

As opções de montagem Btrfs mais importantes são:

**1. acl e noacl

**ACL gerencia permissões de usuários e grupos para os arquivos/diretórios do sistema de arquivos Btrfs.

A opção de montagem acl Btrfs habilita ACL. Para desabilitar a ACL, você pode usar a opção de montagem noacl .

Por padrão, a ACL está habilitada. Portanto, o sistema de arquivos Btrfs usa a opção de montagem acl por padrão.

**2. autodefrag e noautodefrag

**Desfragmentar um sistema de arquivos Btrfs melhorará o desempenho do sistema de arquivos reduzindo a fragmentação de dados.

A opção de montagem autodefrag permite a desfragmentação automática do sistema de arquivos Btrfs.

A opção de montagem noautodefrag desativa a desfragmentação automática do sistema de arquivos Btrfs.

Por padrão, a desfragmentação automática está desabilitada. Portanto, o sistema de arquivos Btrfs usa a opção de montagem noautodefrag por padrão.

**3. compactar e compactar-forçar

**Controla a compactação de dados no nível do sistema de arquivos do sistema de arquivos Btrfs.

A opção compactar compacta apenas os arquivos que valem a pena compactar (se compactar o arquivo economizar espaço em disco).

A opção compress-force compacta todos os arquivos do sistema de arquivos Btrfs, mesmo que a compactação do arquivo aumente seu tamanho.

O sistema de arquivos Btrfs suporta muitos algoritmos de compactação e cada um dos algoritmos de compactação possui diferentes níveis de compactação.

Os algoritmos de compactação suportados pelo Btrfs são: lzo , zlib (nível 1 a 9) e zstd (nível 1 a 15).

Você pode especificar qual algoritmo de compactação usar para o sistema de arquivos Btrfs com uma das seguintes opções de montagem:

• compress=algoritmo:nível
• compress-force=algoritmo:nível

Para obter mais informações, consulte meu artigo Como habilitar a compactação do sistema de arquivos Btrfs .

**4. subvol e subvolid

**Estas opções de montagem são usadas para montar separadamente um subvolume específico de um sistema de arquivos Btrfs.

A opção de montagem subvol é usada para montar o subvolume de um sistema de arquivos Btrfs usando seu caminho relativo.

A opção de montagem subvolid é usada para montar o subvolume de um sistema de arquivos Btrfs usando o ID do subvolume.

Para obter mais informações, consulte meu artigo Como criar e montar subvolumes Btrfs .

**5. dispositivo

A opção de montagem de dispositivo** é usada no sistema de arquivos Btrfs de vários dispositivos ou RAID Btrfs.

Em alguns casos, o sistema operacional pode falhar ao detectar os dispositivos de armazenamento usados em um sistema de arquivos Btrfs de vários dispositivos ou RAID Btrfs. Nesses casos, você pode usar a opção de montagem do dispositivo para especificar os dispositivos que deseja usar para o sistema de arquivos de vários dispositivos Btrfs ou RAID.

Você pode usar a opção de montagem de dispositivo várias vezes para carregar diferentes dispositivos de armazenamento para o sistema de arquivos de vários dispositivos Btrfs ou RAID.

Você pode usar o nome do dispositivo (ou seja, sdb , sdc ) ou UUID , UUID_SUB ou PARTUUID do dispositivo de armazenamento com a opção de montagem do dispositivo para identificar o dispositivo de armazenamento.

Por exemplo,

• dispositivo=/dev/sdb
• dispositivo=/dev/sdb,dispositivo=/dev/sdc
• dispositivo=UUID_SUB=490a263d-eb9a-4558-931e-998d4d080c5d
• device=UUID_SUB=490a263d-eb9a-4558-931e-998d4d080c5d,device=UUID_SUB=f7ce4875-0874-436a-b47d-3edef66d3424

**6. degraded

A opção de montagem degradada** permite que um RAID Btrfs seja montado com menos dispositivos de armazenamento do que o perfil RAID requer.

Por exemplo, o perfil raid1 requer a presença de 2 dispositivos de armazenamento. Se um dos dispositivos de armazenamento não estiver disponível em qualquer caso, você usa a opção de montagem degradada para montar o RAID mesmo que 1 de 2 dispositivos de armazenamento esteja disponível.

**7. commit

A opção commit** mount é usada para definir o intervalo (em segundos) dentro do qual os dados serão gravados no dispositivo de armazenamento.

O padrão é definido como 30 segundos.

Para definir o intervalo de confirmação para 15 segundos, você pode usar a opção de montagem commit=15 (digamos).

**8. ssd e nossd

A opção de montagem ssd** informa ao sistema de arquivos Btrfs que o sistema de arquivos está usando um dispositivo de armazenamento SSD, e o sistema de arquivos Btrfs faz a otimização SSD necessária.

A opção de montagem nossd desativa a otimização do SSD.

O sistema de arquivos Btrfs detecta automaticamente se um SSD é usado para o sistema de arquivos Btrfs. Se um SSD for usado, a opção de montagem de SSD será habilitada. Caso contrário, a opção de montagem nossd é habilitada.

**9. ssd_spread e nossd_spread

A opção de montagem ssd_spread** tenta alocar grandes blocos contínuos de espaço não utilizado do SSD. Esse recurso melhora o desempenho de SSDs de baixo custo (baratos).

A opção de montagem nossd_spread desativa o recurso ssd_spread .

O sistema de arquivos Btrfs detecta automaticamente se um SSD é usado para o sistema de arquivos Btrfs. Se um SSD for usado, a opção de montagem ssd_spread será habilitada. Caso contrário, a opção de montagem nossd_spread é habilitada.

**10. descarte e nodiscard

Se você estiver usando um SSD que suporte TRIM enfileirado assíncrono (SATA rev3.1), a opção de montagem de descarte** permitirá o descarte de blocos de arquivos liberados. Isso melhorará o desempenho do SSD.

Se o SSD não suportar TRIM enfileirado assíncrono, a opção de montagem de descarte prejudicará o desempenho do SSD. Nesse caso, a opção de montagem nodiscard deve ser usada.

Por padrão, a opção de montagem nodiscard é usada.

**11. norecovery

Se a opção de montagem norecovery** for usada, o sistema de arquivos Btrfs não tentará executar a operação de recuperação de dados no momento da montagem.

**12. usebackuproot e nousebackuproot

Se a opção de montagem usebackuproot for usada, o sistema de arquivos Btrfs tentará recuperar qualquer raiz de árvore ruim/corrompida no momento da montagem. O sistema de arquivos Btrfs pode armazenar várias raízes de árvore no sistema de arquivos. A opção de montagem usebackuproot** procurará uma boa raiz de árvore e usará a primeira boa que encontrar.

A opção de montagem nousebackuproot não verificará ou recuperará raízes de árvore inválidas/corrompidas no momento da montagem. Este é o comportamento padrão do sistema de arquivos Btrfs.

**13. space_cache, space_cache=version, nospace_cache e clear_cache

A opção de montagem space_cache** é usada para controlar o cache de espaço livre. O cache de espaço livre é usado para melhorar o desempenho da leitura do espaço livre do grupo de blocos do sistema de arquivos Btrfs na memória (RAM).

O sistema de arquivos Btrfs suporta 2 versões do cache de espaço livre: v1 (padrão) e v2

O mecanismo de cache de espaço livre v2 melhora o desempenho de sistemas de arquivos grandes (tamanho de vários terabytes).

Você pode usar a opção de montagem space_cache=v1 para definir a v1 do cache de espaço livre e a opção de montagem space_cache=v2 para definir a v2 do cache de espaço livre.

A opção de montagem clear_cache é usada para limpar o cache de espaço livre.

Quando o cache de espaço livre v2 é criado, o cache deve ser limpo para criar um cache de espaço livre v1 .

Portanto, para usar o cache de espaço livre v1 após a criação do cache de espaço livre v2 , as opções de montagem clear_cache e space_cache=v1 devem ser combinadas: clear_cache,space_cache=v1

A opção de montagem nospace_cache é usada para desabilitar o cache de espaço livre.

Para desabilitar o cache de espaço livre após a criação do cache v1 ou v2 , as opções de montagem nospace_cache e clear_cache devem ser combinadas: clear_cache,nosapce_cache

**14. skip_balance

Por padrão, a operação de balanceamento interrompida/pausada de um sistema de arquivos Btrfs de vários dispositivos ou RAID Btrfs será retomada automaticamente assim que o sistema de arquivos Btrfs for montado. Para desabilitar a retomada automática da operação de equilíbrio interrompido/pausado em um sistema de arquivos Btrfs de vários dispositivos ou RAID Btrfs, você pode usar a opção de montagem skip_balance .**

**15. datacow e nodatacow

A opção datacow** mount habilita o recurso Copy-on-Write (CoW) do sistema de arquivos Btrfs. É o comportamento padrão.

Se você deseja desabilitar o recurso Copy-on-Write (CoW) do sistema de arquivos Btrfs para os arquivos recém-criados, monte o sistema de arquivos Btrfs com a opção de montagem nodatacow .

**16. datasum e nodatasum

A opção datasum** mount habilita a soma de verificação de dados para arquivos recém-criados do sistema de arquivos Btrfs. Este é o comportamento padrão.

Se você não quiser que o sistema de arquivos Btrfs faça a soma de verificação dos dados dos arquivos recém-criados, monte o sistema de arquivos Btrfs com a opção de montagem nodatasum .

Perfis Btrfs

Um perfil Btrfs é usado para informar ao sistema de arquivos Btrfs quantas cópias dos dados/metadados devem ser mantidas e quais níveis de RAID devem ser usados para os dados/metadados. O sistema de arquivos Btrfs contém muitos perfis. Entendê-los o ajudará a configurar um RAID Btrfs da maneira que você deseja.

Os perfis Btrfs disponíveis são os seguintes:

single : Se o perfil único for usado para os dados/metadados, apenas uma cópia dos dados/metadados será armazenada no sistema de arquivos, mesmo se você adicionar vários dispositivos de armazenamento ao sistema de arquivos. Assim, 100% do espaço em disco de cada um dos dispositivos de armazenamento adicionados ao sistema de arquivos pode ser utilizado.

dup : Se o perfil dup for usado para os dados/metadados, cada um dos dispositivos de armazenamento adicionados ao sistema de arquivos manterá duas cópias dos dados/metadados. Assim, 50% do espaço em disco de cada um dos dispositivos de armazenamento adicionados ao sistema de arquivos pode ser utilizado.

raid0 : No perfil raid0 , os dados/metadados serão divididos igualmente em todos os dispositivos de armazenamento adicionados ao sistema de arquivos. Nesta configuração, não haverá dados/metadados redundantes (duplicados). Assim, 100% do espaço em disco de cada um dos dispositivos de armazenamento adicionados ao sistema de arquivos pode ser usado. Se, em qualquer caso, um dos dispositivos de armazenamento falhar, todo o sistema de arquivos será corrompido. Você precisará de pelo menos dois dispositivos de armazenamento para configurar o sistema de arquivos Btrfs no perfil raid0 .

raid1 : No perfil raid1 , duas cópias dos dados/metadados serão armazenadas nos dispositivos de armazenamento adicionados ao sistema de arquivos. Nesta configuração, a matriz RAID pode sobreviver a uma falha de unidade. Mas você pode usar apenas 50% do espaço total em disco. Você precisará de pelo menos dois dispositivos de armazenamento para configurar o sistema de arquivos Btrfs no perfil raid1 .

raid1c3 : No perfil raid1c3 , três cópias dos dados/metadados serão armazenadas nos dispositivos de armazenamento adicionados ao sistema de arquivos. Nesta configuração, a matriz RAID pode sobreviver a duas falhas de unidade, mas você pode usar apenas 33% do espaço total em disco. Você precisará de pelo menos três dispositivos de armazenamento para configurar o sistema de arquivos Btrfs no perfil raid1c3 .

raid1c4 : No perfil raid1c4 , quatro cópias dos dados/metadados serão armazenadas nos dispositivos de armazenamento adicionados ao sistema de arquivos. Nesta configuração, a matriz RAID pode sobreviver a três falhas de unidade, mas você pode usar apenas 25% do espaço total em disco. Você precisará de pelo menos quatro dispositivos de armazenamento para configurar o sistema de arquivos Btrfs no perfil raid1c4 .

raid10 : No perfil raid10 , duas cópias dos dados/metadados serão armazenadas nos dispositivos de armazenamento adicionados ao sistema de arquivos, como no perfil raid1 . Além disso, os dados/metadados serão divididos entre os dispositivos de armazenamento, como no perfil raid0 .

O perfil raid10 é um híbrido dos perfis raid1 e raid0 . Alguns dos dispositivos de armazenamento formam arrays raid1 e alguns desses arrays raid1 são usados para formar um array raid0 . Em uma configuração raid10 , o sistema de arquivos pode sobreviver a uma única falha de unidade em cada uma das matrizes raid1 .

Você pode usar 50% do espaço total em disco na configuração raid10 . Você precisará de pelo menos quatro dispositivos de armazenamento para configurar o sistema de arquivos Btrfs no perfil raid10 .

raid5 : No perfil raid5 , uma cópia dos dados/metadados será dividida entre os dispositivos de armazenamento. Uma única paridade será calculada e distribuída entre os dispositivos de armazenamento do array RAID.

Em uma configuração raid5 , o sistema de arquivos pode sobreviver a uma única falha de unidade. Se uma unidade falhar, você pode adicionar uma nova unidade ao sistema de arquivos e os dados perdidos serão calculados a partir da paridade distribuída das unidades em execução.

Você pode usar 1 00x(N-1)/N % do total de espaços em disco na configuração raid5 . Aqui, N é o número de dispositivos de armazenamento adicionados ao sistema de arquivos. Você precisará de pelo menos três dispositivos de armazenamento para configurar o sistema de arquivos Btrfs no perfil raid5 .

raid6 : No perfil raid6 , uma cópia dos dados/metadados será dividida entre os dispositivos de armazenamento. Duas paridades serão calculadas e distribuídas entre os dispositivos de armazenamento do array RAID.

Em uma configuração raid6 , o sistema de arquivos pode sobreviver a duas falhas de unidade ao mesmo tempo. Se uma unidade falhar, você poderá adicionar uma nova unidade ao sistema de arquivos e os dados perdidos serão calculados a partir das duas paridades distribuídas das unidades em execução.

Você pode usar 100x(N-2)/N % do espaço total em disco na configuração raid6 . Aqui, N é o número de dispositivos de armazenamento adicionados ao sistema de arquivos. Você precisará de pelo menos quatro dispositivos de armazenamento para configurar o sistema de arquivos Btrfs no perfil raid6 .

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

Leaders Rally Behind BTC at Bitcoin 2025 Conference: Strategic Reserves, Market Clarity, and Legislative Momentum

At Bitcoin 2025, top U.S. lawmakers and Coinbase’s Chief Policy Officer discussed the U.S. government’s shifting tone on Bitcoin, strategic reserves, regulatory frameworks, and legislation—all pointing toward a bullish future for digital assets.

In a panel moderated by Grant McCarty, Co-President of the Bitcoin Policy Institute, the Bitcoin 2025 Conference saw a major spotlight on U.S. policy shifts surrounding digital assets. U.S. Representatives Byron Donalds and Bryan Steil were joined by Faryar Shirzad, Chief Policy Officer at Coinbase, to highlight what they described as a watershed moment for Bitcoin in Washington. 

JUST IN: US Congressman Byron Donalds says he's voting for the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Act

"Bitcoin has proven to be a holder of value" pic.twitter.com/NuQlZ26Lmy

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) May 27, 2025

“What the president and his team are doing is choosing to step into the digital assets marketplace,” said Byron Donalds. “Bitcoin is a key asset because it has demonstrated to be a holder of value outside of fiat currency and central banking.” Donalds emphasized that President Trump is taking the long view—strategically recognizing Bitcoin’s role in a national reserve capacity.

Bryan Steil pointed to Trump’s media magnetism and political leverage as the driver behind recent legislative momentum: “What he’s done is put a spotlight on the exact three bills… giving us the ability to drive forward.” He noted that legislation is difficult to pass, but with executive support, there’s newfound energy and opportunity to cross the finish line.

Shirzad echoed that sentiment: “The tone from the top point is exactly what Donald Trump has showed us… He wants a market structure built. He wants a much more strategic approach.” Coinbase, Shirzad added, sees the impact firsthand—legislators now recognize the need to support innovation rather than stifle it.

Donalds added: “If you talk to any business owner in the world, the number one thing they desire more than anything else is certainty and consistency.” That, he said, is what will turn Bitcoin into a trillion-dollar industry in the U.S., instead of one bogged down by regulatory ambiguity and legal overhead.

On the regulatory front, Steil noted: “Under the Biden administration, policy was being developed through enforcement actions. Bitcoin is decentralized and should be treated as a commodity.” Shirzad agreed, pushing for “regulatory therapy” to unleash billions still sidelined.

McCarty closed with mention of the Blockchain Regulatory Clarity Act—legislation that would protect open-source developers from rogue regulatory action: “It allows developers to operate without being punished.”

Donalds summed it up: “There’s only going to be 21 million ever in creation. That can’t be eroded by central banks. A strategic reserve for Bitcoin is critical in my opinion for the United States.” 

This post Leaders Rally Behind BTC at Bitcoin 2025 Conference: Strategic Reserves, Market Clarity, and Legislative Momentum first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Jenna Montgomery.

@ 2b998b04:86727e47

I’ve spent years chasing the promise of freedom.\ In startups. In faith communities. In movements that claimed to be for the people.

And yet — so often, that promise felt just out of reach.\ Conditional. Corporate. Sanitized.\ A freedom with fine print.

But here —\ Here in the thick of Bitcoin 2025, on Nostr, among misfits and builders and signal-bringers —\ something is alive.

It’s not a platform.\ It’s not a marketing strategy.\ It’s not another app promising to “empower” you while locking down your data and selling you out.

It’s freedom rooted in architecture.\ Decentralization not just as a buzzword —\ but as an expression of conviction.

A kind of freedom you can feel in your body:

• When you zap someone’s words because they moved you — not because an algorithm told you to.

• When your identity is yours — keys, not credentials.

• When no one can delete your story because you control the server, or because there is no server — just the relay of your choosing.

This isn’t utopia.\ There are egos. There’s noise. There’s still posturing.\ But it’s different.\ The center of gravity has shifted.

We’re no longer begging institutions to notice us.\ We’re building outside their jurisdiction.

And for the first time in a long time,\ freedom feels close.\ Tangible.\ Joyful.\ Alive.

This isn’t just about tech.\ It’s about trust.\ It’s about choosing to show up —\ to build\ to write\ to signal\ to keep going.

Even when it’s hard.\ Even when no one claps.

Because real freedom doesn’t come from being noticed.\ It comes from being sovereign.

And that’s something no one can take from me again.

—

Written in Las Vegas, during Bitcoin 2025.\ Posted via Nostr. Vibes co-authored by ChatGPT (“Dr. C”).\ Zap: https://tinyurl.com/yuyu2b9t

@ 048ecb14:7c28ac78

I recently set up a Raspberry Pi camera server that's so minimal and straightforward, I thought it was worth sharing. This isn't one of those over-engineered solutions with fancy features - it's just a basic, reliable camera feed accessible from any browser on my local network.

The Goal

I wanted something that: 1. Starts automatically when the Pi boots up 2. Captures images at regular intervals 3. Shows the latest image in a simple web page accessible from any device 4. Doesn't require complex setup or dependencies 5. Uses minimal resources on my old Raspberry Pi

The Hardware

Nothing fancy here: - Raspberry Pi 2B (yes, the ancient one from 2015!) - Raspberry Pi Camera Module (standard version) - Power supply - That's it!

The Result

The interface is minimal but does the job. It shows the latest image and auto-refreshes every couple of seconds.

How to Get Set Up

Getting this running on your own Pi is super simple:

1. Make sure your camera module is connected and enabled bash sudo raspi-config # Navigate to Interface Options > Camera and enable it

2. Install the only dependency, ImageMagick (for rotation) bash sudo apt update sudo apt install imagemagick

3. Clone the repository, and navigate to the implementation's directory bash git clone https://github.com/rewolf/RpiCameraViewer cd simple

4. Start the camera server bash ./start_camera_server.sh

5. Access the feed from any device on your network http://your-pi-ip-address:8080

That's it! No complex configuration, no fancy dependencies.

For more details consider reading the README

To make it start automatically on boot:

Add the following, with your specific installation path ```bash crontab -e

Add this line:

@reboot cd /path/to/RpiCameraViewer/simple && ./start_camera_server.sh ```

Configuration

There's not much configuration, but you can tweak few variables at the top of the capture.sh file to modify width, height, rotation, quality, etc:

bash QUALITY=90 WIDTH=720 HEIGHT=1280 ROTATION=90 # Set to 0 to disable rotation

How It Works

The solution is very basic:

1. A bash script (capture.sh) captures photos every few seconds by running libcamera-still and sending a SIGUSR1 interrupt to signal it to capture a snapshot
2. The snapshot is rotated as needed with ImageMagick and saved with timestamps
3. A symbolic link is updated to point to the latest image
4. A minimal Python HTTP server serves a basic webpage showing the current image (the symlink), rendered to an HTML canvas

Note it does expose that directory to the whole LAN on :8080.

---

Give it a try if you need something like that quickly.

I have a plan to make a better implementation planned at some point, but for now this will do.

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

Donald Trump Jr. Unveils $2.5B Bitcoin Push: “We’re Going to the Moon” 

In an interview at the Bitcoin 2025 Conference today, Rumble Founder and CEO Chris Pavlovski sat down with Don Trump Jr. to talk free speech, Bitcoin, and a seismic shift in the financial system—fueled by the current administration’s pro-crypto stance. 

JUST IN: Donald Trump Jr. said the flood gates are opening for #Bitcoin pic.twitter.com/fAq4mGyJGA

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) May 28, 2025

“I wasn’t an early adopter like so many people in the room who were here in 2012,” Trump Jr. admitted. “We were real estate guys. Finance was always easy for us.”

Trump Jr. revealed that TMTG and Truth Social are forming a Bitcoin treasury to the tune of $2.5 billion—a move he called “a pretty big deal.” The announcement comes alongside new partnerships, including one with mining giant Hut 8, and the launch of a new group focused on building American Bitcoin reserves.  

“We’re seriously on crypto—we’re seriously on Bitcoin,” Trump Jr. emphasized. “We’re in three major deals. I believe we’re at the beginning of what will be the future of finance. And the opportunity is massive.” 

Chris Pavlovski agreed: “We weren’t a Bitcoin company to start off with—we were a free speech company. But I almost think we’re at that ‘all of a sudden’ moment. The floodgates are opening.”

Donald Trump Jr. at Bitcoin 2025 in Las Vegas

The pair drew comparisons between Bitcoin and Rumble, describing both as targets of relentless media and regulatory pressure. “Bitcoin has had things thrown at it—laws, attacks,” said Pavlovski. “Same with Rumble. But we’re in an environment now where the administration is extremely pro-crypto and pro-Bitcoin.” 

“The latest adopters are going to fare the worst,” Trump Jr. warned. “It’s the future of finance. I’m so excited to see the administration stepping up.” 

Rumble’s Bitcoin strategy, including its move to build reserves, was directly inspired by this shift. “It gave me all kinds of confidence that the administration would do all the right things,” Pavlovski said. 

“Trump gets this stuff. He gets it quick,” Trump Jr. closed. “We’re going to the moon, guys. Stay in. Stay strong.” 

This post Donald Trump Jr. Unveils $2.5B Bitcoin Push: “We’re Going to the Moon”  first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Jenna Montgomery.

@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d

Steak ‘n Shake recently made headlines by officially accepting bitcoin payments via the Lightning Network across all its U.S. locations. The integration of Bitcoin payments at over 500 locations is a monumental moment for both the fast food industry and the broader retail sector.

This is not just something that Steak ‘n Shake is testing in a handful of locations, they are doing a full-scale rollout, fully embracing Bitcoin. 

With more than 100 million customers a year, Steak ‘n Shake’s integration of Lightning—Bitcoin’s fast, low-fee payment layer—makes it easier than ever to use Bitcoin in day-to-day life. Buying a burger and a shake with sats? That’s now a real option.

The process is straightforward. Customers simply scan a Lightning QR code at the register, completing their payment in seconds, while Steak ‘n Shake receives instant USD conversion, ensuring price stability and ease of use.

So what does this mean for Bitcoin and E-commerce?

For starters, Steak ‘n Shake becomes the first of eventually many to fully embrace a digital world. As Bitcoin continues to grow, consumers will continue to realize the benefits of saving in a currency that is truly scarce and decentralized.

This is a huge step forward for Bitcoin as it shows it is not just for holding, it’s for spending, too. And by using the Lightning Network, Steak n’ Shake is helping prove that Bitcoin can scale for everyday transactions. 

This now creates a seamless checkout experience, making bitcoin a viable alternative to credit cards and cash.

More importantly, it signals a significant shift in mainstream attitudes towards Bitcoin. As a well-known brand across America, this move serves as a powerful endorsement, likely to influence other chains and retailers to consider similar integrations.

Related: Spar Supermarket in Switzerland Now Accepts Bitcoin Via Lightning

What can this mean for your business? 

Accepting bitcoin as payment can open the door to a new demographic of tech-savvy, financially engaged consumers who prefer digital assets.

As we know, companies that adopt Bitcoin receive a fascinating amount of love from the Bitcoin community and I would assume Steak n’ Shake will be receiving the same amount of attention.

From a business perspective, accepting bitcoin has become more than just a payment method—it’s a marketing tool. It sets your business apart and gets people talking. And in a crowded market, that kind of edge matters.

Steak ‘n Shake’s embrace of Bitcoin is likely to accelerate the adoption of digital assets in both physical retail and e-commerce.

As more businesses witness the operational and marketing benefits, industry experts anticipate a ripple effect that will increase interaction between consumers and digital currencies, further regulatory clarity, and bring continued innovation in payment technology.

Steak ‘n Shake’s nationwide Bitcoin payments rollout is more than a novelty. It’s a pivotal development for digital payments, setting a precedent for other retailers and signaling the growing integration of digital assets into everyday commerce.

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

Donald Trump Jr. Unveils $2.5B Bitcoin Push: “We’re Going to the Moon” 

In an interview at the Bitcoin 2025 Conference today, Rumble Founder and CEO Chris Pavlovski sat down with Don Trump Jr. to talk free speech, Bitcoin, and a seismic shift in the financial system—fueled by the current administration’s pro-crypto stance. 

JUST IN: Donald Trump Jr. said the flood gates are opening for #Bitcoin pic.twitter.com/fAq4mGyJGA

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) May 28, 2025

“I wasn’t an early adopter like so many people in the room who were here in 2012,” Trump Jr. admitted. “We were real estate guys. Finance was always easy for us.”

Trump Jr. revealed that TMTG and Truth Social are forming a Bitcoin treasury to the tune of $2.5 billion—a move he called “a pretty big deal.” The announcement comes alongside new partnerships, including one with mining giant Hut 8, and the launch of a new group focused on building American Bitcoin reserves.  

“We’re seriously on crypto—we’re seriously on Bitcoin,” Trump Jr. emphasized. “We’re in three major deals. I believe we’re at the beginning of what will be the future of finance. And the opportunity is massive.” 

Chris Pavlovski agreed: “We weren’t a Bitcoin company to start off with—we were a free speech company. But I almost think we’re at that ‘all of a sudden’ moment. The floodgates are opening.”

Donald Trump Jr. at Bitcoin 2025 in Las Vegas

The pair drew comparisons between Bitcoin and Rumble, describing both as targets of relentless media and regulatory pressure. “Bitcoin has had things thrown at it—laws, attacks,” said Pavlovski. “Same with Rumble. But we’re in an environment now where the administration is extremely pro-crypto and pro-Bitcoin.” 

“The latest adopters are going to fare the worst,” Trump Jr. warned. “It’s the future of finance. I’m so excited to see the administration stepping up.” 

Rumble’s Bitcoin strategy, including its move to build reserves, was directly inspired by this shift. “It gave me all kinds of confidence that the administration would do all the right things,” Pavlovski said. 

“Trump gets this stuff. He gets it quick,” Trump Jr. closed. “We’re going to the moon, guys. Stay in. Stay strong.” 

This post Donald Trump Jr. Unveils $2.5B Bitcoin Push: “We’re Going to the Moon”  first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Jenna Montgomery.

@ 57c631a3:07529a8e

What is Growth Engineering? Before we start: if you’ve already filled out the What is your tech stack? survey: thank you! If you’ve not done so, your help will be greatly appreciated. It takes 5-15 minutes to complete. Those filling out will receive results before anyone else, and additional analysis from myself and Elin. Fill out this survey here.**

Fill out the survey

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Growth engineering was barely known a decade ago, but today, most scaleups and many publicly traded tech companies have dedicated growth teams staffed by growth engineers. However, some software engineers are still suspicious of this new area because of its reputation for hacky code with little to no code coverage.

For this reason and others, I thought it would be interesting to learn more from an expert who can tell us all about the practicalities of this controversial domain. So I turned to Alexey Komissarouk, who’s been in growth engineering since 2016, and was in charge of it at online education platform, MasterClass. These days, Alexey lives in Tokyo, Japan, where he advises on growth engineering and teaches the Growth Engineering course at Reforge.

In today’s deep dive, Alexey covers:

1. What is Growth Engineering? In the simplest terms: writing code to help a company make more money. But there are details to consider: like the company size where it makes sense to have a dedicated team do this.
2. What do Growth Engineers work on? Business-facing work, empowerment and platform work are the main areas.
3. Why Growth Engineers move faster than Product Engineers. Product Engineers ship to build: Growth Engineers ship to learn. Growth Engineers do take shortcuts that would make no sense when building for longevity – doing this on purpose.
4. Tech stack. Common programming languages, monitoring and oncall, feature flags and experimentation, product analytics, review apps, and more.
5. What makes a good Growth Engineer? Curiosity, “build to learn” mindset and a “Jack of all trades” approach.
6. Where do Growth Engineers fit in? Usually part of the engineering department, either operating as with an “owner” or a “hitchiker” model.
7. Becoming a Growth Engineer. A great area if you want to eventually become a founder or product manager – but even if not, it can accelerate your career growth. Working in Growth forces you to learn more about the business.

With that, it’s over to Alexey:

I’ll never forget the first time I made my employer a million dollars.

I was running a push notification A/B test for meal delivery startup Sprig, trying to boost repeat orders.

A push notification similar to what we tested to boost repeat orders

Initial results were unpromising; the push notification was not receiving many opens. Still, I wanted to be thorough: before concluding the idea was a failure, I wrote a SQL query to compare order volume for subsequent weeks between customers in test vs control.

The SQL used to figure out the push notification’s efficiency

As it turned out, our test group “beat” the control group by around 10%:

‘review_5_push’ was the new type of push notification. Roughly the same amount of users clicked it, but they placed 10% more in orders

I plugged the numbers into a significance calculator, which showed it was statistically significant – or “stat-sig” – and therefore highly unlikely to be a coincidence. This meant we had a winner on our hands! But how meaningful was it, really, and what would adding the push notification mean for revenue, if rolled out to 100% of users?

It turned out this experiment created an additional $1.5 million dollars, annually, with just one push notification. Wow!

I was hooked. Since that day, I've shipped hundreds of experimental “winners” which generated hundreds of millions of incremental revenue for my employers. But you never forget the first one. Moments like this is what growth engineering is all about.

1. What is Growth Engineering?

Essentially, growth engineering is the writing of code to make a company money. Of course, all code produced by a business on some level serves this purpose, but while Product Engineers focus on creating a Product worth paying for, Growth Engineers instead focus on making that good product have a good business. To this end, they focus on optimizing and refining key parts of the customer journey, such as:

• Getting more people to consider the product
• Converting them into paying customers
• Keeping them as customers for longer, and spending more

What kinds of companies employ Growth Engineers? Places you’ve heard of, like Meta, LinkedIn, DoorDash, Coinbase, and Dropbox, are some of the ones I’ve had students from. There’s also OpenAI, Uber, Tiktok, Tinder, Airbnb, Pinterest… the list of high-profile companies goes on. Most newer public consumer companies you’ve heard have a growth engineering org, too.

Typically, growth engineering orgs are started by companies at Series B stage and beyond, so long as they are selling to either consumers or businesses via SaaS. These are often places trying to grow extremely fast, and have enough software engineers that some can focus purely on growth. Before the Series B stage, a team is unlikely to be ready for growth for various reasons; likely that it hasn’t found product-market fit, or has no available headcount, or lacks the visitor traffic required to run A/B tests.

Cost is a consideration. A fully-loaded growth team consisting of a handful of engineers, a PM, and a designer costs approximately 1 million dollars annually. To justify this, a rule of thumb is to have at least $5 million dollars in recurring revenue – a milestone often achieved at around the Series B stage.

Despite the presence of growth engineering at many public consumer tech companies, the field itself is still quite new, as a discipline and as a proper title.

Brief history of growth engineering

When I joined Opendoor in 2016, there was a head of growth but no dedicated growth engineers, but there were by the time I left in 2020. At MasterClass soon after, there was a growth org and a dozen dedicated growth engineers. So when did growth engineering originate?

The story is that its origins lie at Facebook in 2007. The team was created by then-VP of platform and monetization Chamath Palihapitiya. Reforce founder and CEO Brian Balfour shares:

“Growth (the kind found on an org chart) began at Facebook under the direction of Chamath Palihapitiya. In 2007, he joined the early team in a nebulous role that fell somewhere between Product, Marketing, and Operations. According to his retelling of the story on Recode Decode, after struggling to accomplish anything meaningful in his first year on the job, he was on the verge of being fired.Sheryl Sandberg joined soon after him, and in a hail mary move he pitched her the game-changing idea that led to the creation of the first-ever growth team. This idea not only saved his job, but earned him the lion’s share of the credit for Facebook’s unprecedented growth.At the time, Sheryl and Mark asked him, “What do you call this thing where you help change the product, do some SEO and SEM, and algorithmically do this or that?”His response: “I don’t know, I just call that, like, Growth, you know, we’re going to try to grow. I’ll be the head of growing stuff."And just like that, Growth became a thing.”

Rather than focus on a particular product or feature, the growth team at Facebook focused on moving the needle, and figuring out which features to work on. These days, Meta employs hundreds if not thousands of growth engineers.

2. What do Growth Engineers work on?

Before we jump into concrete examples, let’s identify three primary focus areas that a growth engineer’s work usually involves.

• Business-facing work – improving the business directly
• Empowerment work – enabling other teams to improve the business
• Platform work – improving the velocity of the above activities

Let’s go through all three:

Business-facing work

This is the bread and butter of growth engineering, and follows a common pattern:

• Implement an idea. Try something big or small to try and move a key business metric, which differs by team but is typically related to conversion rate or retention.
• Quantify impact. Usually via A/B testing.
• Analyze impact. Await results, analyze impact, ship or roll back – then go back to the first step.

Experiments can lead to sweeping or barely noticeable changes. A famous “I can’t believe they needed to test this” was when Google figured out which shade of blue generates the most clicks. At MasterClass, we tested things across the spectrum:

• Small: should we show the price right on the homepage, was that a winner? Yes, but we framed it in monthly terms of $15/month, not $180/year.
• Medium: when browsing a course page, should we include related courses, or more details about the course itself? Was it a winner? After lengthy experimentation, it was hard to tell: both are valuable and we needed to strike the right balance.
• Large: when a potential customer is interested, do we take them straight to checkout, or encourage them to learn more? Counterintuitively, adding steps boosted conversion!

Empowerment

One of the best ways an engineer can move a target metric is by removing themselves as a bottleneck, so colleagues from marketing can iterate and optimize freely. To this end, growth engineers can either build internal tools or integrate self-serve MarTech (Marketing Technology) vendors.

With the right tool, there’s a lot that marketers can do without engineering’s involvement:

• Build and iterate on landing pages (Unbounce, Instapage, etc)
• Draft and send email, SMS and Push Notifications (Iterable, Braze, Customer.io, etc)
• Connect new advertising partners (Google Tag Manager, Segment, etc)

We go more into detail about benefits and applications in the MarTech section of Tech Stack, below.

Platform work

As a business scales, dedicated platform teams help improve stability and velocity for the teams they support. Within growth, this often includes initiatives like:

• Experiment Platform. Many parts of running an experiment can be standardized, from filtering the audience, to bucketing users properly, to observing statistical methodology. Historically, companies built reusable Experiment Platforms in-house, but more recently, vendors such as Eppo and Statsig have grown in popularity with fancy statistical methodologies like “Controlled Using Pre-Experiment Data” (CUPED) that give more signal with less data.
• Reusable components. Companies with standard front-end components for things like headlines, buttons, and images, dramatically reduce the time required to spin up a new page. No more "did you want 5 or 6 pixels here" with a designer; instead growth engineers rely on tools like Storybook to standardize and share reusable React components.
• Monitoring. Growth engineering benefits greatly from leveraging monitoring to compensate for reduced code coverage. High-quality business metric monitoring tools can detect bugs before they cause damage.

When I worked at MasterClass, having monitoring at the ad layer prevented at least one six-figure incident. One Friday, a marketer accidentally broadened the audience for a particular ad from US-only, to worldwide. In response, the Facebook Ad algorithm went on a spending spree, bringing in plenty of visitors from places like Brazil and India, whom we knew from past experience were unlikely to purchase the product. Fortunately, our monitoring noticed the low-performing campaign within minutes, and an alert was sent to the growth engineer on-call, who immediately reached out to the marketer and confirmed the change was unintentional, and then shut down the campaign.

Without this monitoring, a subtle targeting error like this could have gone unnoticed all weekend and would have eaten up $100,000+ of marketing budget. This episode shows that platform investment can benefit everyone; and since growth needs them most, it’s often the growth platform engineering team which implements them.

As the day-to-day work of a Growth Engineer shows, A/B tests are a critical tool to both measure success and learn. It’s a numbers game: the more A/B tests a team can run in a given quarter, the more of them will end up winners, making the team successful. It’s no wonder, then, that Growth Engineering will pull out all the stops to improve velocity.

3. Why Growth Engineers move faster than Product Engineers

On the surface, growth engineering teams look like product engineering ones; writing code, shipping pull requests, monitoring on-call, etc. So how do they move so much faster? The big reason lies in philosophy and focus, not technology. To quote Elena Verna, head of growth at Dropbox:

“Product Engineering teams ship to build; Growth Engineering teams ship to learn.”

Real-world case: price changes at Masterclass

A few years ago at MasterClass, the growth team wanted to see if changing our pricing model to multiple tiers would improve revenue.

Inspired in part by multiple pricing tiers for competitors such as Netflix (above), Disney Plus, and Hulu.

The “multiple pricing tier” proposal for MasterClass.

From a software engineering perspective, this was a highly complex project because:

• Backend engineering work: the backend did not yet support multiple pricing options, requiring a decent amount of engineering, and rigorous testing to make sure existing customers weren’t affected.
• Client app changes: on the device side, multiple platforms (iOS, iPad, Android, Roku, Apple TV, etc) would each need to be updated, including each relevant app store.

The software engineering team estimated that becoming a “multi-pricing-tier” company would take months across numerous engineering teams, and engineering leadership was unwilling to greenlight that significant investment.

We in growth engineering took this as a challenge. As usual, our goal was not just to add the new pricing model, but to learn how much money it might bring in. The approach we ended up proposing was a Fake Door test, which involves offering a not-yet-available option to customers to gauge interest level. This was risky, as taking a customer who’s ready to pay and telling them to join some kind of waiting list is a colossal waste, and risks making them feel like the target of a “bait and switch” trick.

We found a way. The key insight was that people are only offended about a “bait and switch”, if the “switch” is worse than the “bait.” Telling customers they would pay $100 and then switching to $150 would cause a riot, but starting at $150 and then saying “just kidding, it’s only $100” is a pleasant surprise.

The good kind of surprise.

So long as every test “pricing tier” is less appealing – higher prices, fewer features – than the current offering, we could “upgrade” customers after their initial selection. A customer choosing the cheapest tier gets extra features at no extra cost, while a customer choosing a more expensive tier is offered a discount.

We created three new tiers, at different prices. The new “premium” tier would describe the existing, original offering. Regardless of what potential customers selected, they got this “original offering,” during the experiment.

The best thing about this was that no backend changes were required. There were no real, new, back-end pricing plans; everybody ended up purchasing the same version of MasterClass for the same price, with the same features. The entirety of the engineering work was on building a new pricing page, and the “congratulations, you’ve been upgraded” popup. This took just a few days.

Within a couple of weeks, we had enough data to be confident the financial upside of moving to a multi-pricing-tier model would be significant. With this, we’re able to convince the rest of engineering’s leadership to invest in building the feature properly. In the end, launching multiple pricing tiers turned out to be one of the biggest revenue wins of the year.

Building a skyscraper vs building a tent

The MasterClass example demonstrates the spirit of growth engineering; focusing on building to learn, instead of building to last. Consider building skyscrapers versus tents.

Building a tent optimizes for speed of set-up and tear-down over longevity. You don’t think of a tent as one that is shoddy or low-quality compared to skyscrapers: it’s not even the same category of buildings! Growth engineers maximize use of lightweight materials. To stick with the tents vs skyscraper metaphor: we prioritize lightweight fabric materials over steel and concrete whenever possible. We only resort to traditional building materials when there’s no other choice, or when a direction is confirmed as correct. Quality is important – after all, a tent must keep out rain and mosquitoes. However, the speed-vs-durability tradeoff decision results in very different approaches and outcomes.

4. Tech stack

At first glance, growth and product engineers use the same tooling, and contribute to the same codebases. But growth engineering tends to be high-velocity, experiment-heavy, and with limited test coverage. This means that certain “nice to have” tools for product engineering are mission-critical for growth engineers.

Read more https://connect-test.layer3.press/articles/ea02c1a1-7cfa-42b4-8722-0165abcae8bb

@ 5d4b6c8d:8a1c1ee3

Pretty good day today, despite being a bit of a cookie monster again. - Lots of steps from mowing the lawn, walking the dog, and miscellaneous errands - Broke my fast a little early in the morning, but ate healthy until afternoon snacks

Also, I came across a new health app on nostr. Has anyone else used SOUND HSA? It supposedly pays sats for steps.

How did everyone else do with their goals today?

https://stacker.news/items/991609

@ a29cfc65:484fac9c

Deutschland ist eines der wenigen Länder mit einer gesetzlich verankerten ausnahmslosen Schulbesuchspflicht. Mit den Schulschließungen in der Corona-Zeit wurde das Gesetz jedoch faktisch plötzlich außer Kraft gesetzt. Alle mussten zu Hause lernen. Als die Schulen danach wieder offen waren, wurden die Kinder mit Maskenpflicht, Tests und Impfdruck gequält. Nicht selten traten bei den Schülern Krankheiten und psychische Störungen auf. Nicht wenige Eltern suchten im Gespräch mit dem Lehrerkollegium nach Lösungen für ihre Kinder. In den meisten Fällen war das nicht möglich. Die Lehrer waren auf die neue Ideologie und die Durchsetzung der Maßnahmen eingeschworen und hatten Angst. Einige Eltern haben ihre Kinder dann in eigener Verantwortung aus der Schule genommen und zu Hause selbst unterrichtet. An manchen Orten fanden sich Gemeinschaften, wo die Kinder in Gruppen lernten. Während viele Lerngemeinschaften nicht mehr existieren, hat die Familie von Katharina den Unterricht für ihre drei Kinder in Eigenregie etabliert. Inzwischen haben sie dafür sogar „den Segen“ von Familiengericht und Jugendamt.

Katharina und Johannes leben mit ihren drei Wunschkindern Aurelius (15), Benjamin (14) und Friedrich (10) in einem Vorort von Leipzig. Die Familie wohnte früher in der Stadt. In der Corona-Zeit haben sie sich mit dem Physiotherapie- & Seminarzentrum Curasanus eine Existenz auf dem Land aufgebaut und begehen diesen Sommer ihr 20-jähriges Praxis-Jubiläum. Katharina hat ihre Arbeit als Physiotherapeutin weitgehend aufgegeben, um sich als Mama und Lernbegleiterin ihren Kindern widmen zu können. Daneben bietet sie Vorträge und Workshops an, übernimmt einen großen Teil der Praxis-Organisation und ist Manager, Rezeptionistin und Vertriebler der eigenen Firma. Wir besuchten einen ihrer Lachyoga-Kurse. Dabei erlebten wir ihr Zusammenspiel mit den drei Kindern. Anschließend stellten wir Katharina unsere Fragen zum Freilernen.

Im unmittelbaren Umfeld wird die Familie bestaunt und geachtet. Sie haben sich bewusst für das Freilernen entschieden. Die Kinder wurden ohne Test nicht mehr in die Schule gelassen. Auch andere Zwangsmaßnahmen wie die Maske wollten die Eltern den Kindern ersparen. Besonders Benjamin hatte traumatische Erlebnisse. Seine Lehrerin schmiss mit dem Schlüssel nach den Schülern und wandte andere schwarze Pädagogik an. Er ging ständig mit Bauchschmerzen ins Bett. Ein weiterer Punkt ist die Masernimpfung. Die Kinder könnten zwar zur Schule gehen, aber die Eltern werden mit rechtlichen Maßnahmen und Zwangszahlungen belegt. Da Katharina in ihrer Praxis viele Erkrankungen als Folge der Masernimpfung beobachten konnte, lehnt sie die Pflichtimpfung ab. Die Eltern haben kein Vertrauen mehr in die staatliche Schulerziehung mit all dem Zwang und den Erpressungen. Als die Familie den Entschluss gefasst hatte, die Kinder nicht mehr in die Schule zu schicken, haben sie ihre Praxis vorübergehend geschlossen, ihr Haus verkauft und sind auf Reisen gegangen. Die beiden großen Kinder wurden von der Schule abgemeldet. Nach der Rückkehr haben sie dann mit einem neuen Leben auf dem Land begonnen.

Lernen ohne Schule: Wie geht das?

„Wissen ist Macht und eine Holschuld“, sagt uns Katharina. Das ist ihr Motto und motiviert auch die Kinder. Mit dem Unterricht zu Hause macht die Familie ihre eigene Studie und zeigt, dass Lernen auch anders geht als in der Schule. Die Eltern können viel besser auf jedes einzelne Kind eingehen. Johannes arbeitete früher als Straßenbauer. Er unterstützt die Jungs vor allem in Mathematik, Geometrie und Physik sowie bei handwerklichen Fertigkeiten. Katharinas Stärken liegen in Deutsch, Sprachen und Organisation. Unter den Patienten ihrer Praxis gibt es Lehrer, die ihnen helfen. Weitere Unterstützung kommt von Freunden und Bekannten. Bei bestimmten Projekten treffen sie auf andere Freilernerkinder. „Das Netzwerk wird immer größer, es wird immer schöner und interessanter“, sagt Katharina. Man geht mit vielen anderen einen gemeinsamen Weg, verlässt dabei eingetretene Pfade und erkundet neue Themenfelder wie Mediengestaltung, freie Energie, Elektrotherapie, meditatives und Improvisations-Zeichnen. „Ich sprudele vor Ideen. Sie kommen in mein Feld, und dann mache ich was draus“, sagt Katharina. Die Jungs sind in Wurzen im Ringelnatz-Literaturkreis. Dort schreiben sie Drehbuchgeschichten und haben einen Film produziert. Sie suchen sich Projekte oder kreieren neue, wie mit dem Planetarium Eilenburg. Diese Zusammenarbeit hat sich sehr gut entwickelt. Dort lernen 4- bis 15-Jährige zusammen. Die drei Jungs spielen Klavier. Erdkunde und Geschichte erleben die Kinder auch dadurch, dass die Familie Hauptstädte oder die bosnischen Pyramiden selbst erkundet. Dabei erweist es sich als Vorteil, nicht auf die Ferienzeiten angewiesen zu sein.

Als Physiotherapeutin ist Katharina bewusst, dass man neue Lernstrategien entwickeln muss. Die Kinder lernen unterschiedlich. Jedes Kind hat seinen eigenen Charakter. Aurelius benötigt eher eine 1:1-Betreuung. Darauf kann Katharina viel individueller eingehen als die staatliche Schule. Es ist aber auch aufwendiger und anstrengender. Besonderen Wert legt sie darauf, dass rechte und linke Gehirnhälfte gleichmäßig beansprucht werden. Lernphasen werden immer wieder mit Entspannungs- oder Bewegungsphasen kombiniert. Sie weiß, dass den Kindern zuerst die Grundlagen des Lesens, Rechnens und Schreibens vermittelt werden müssen. Dann sind sie in der Lage, sich alles Weitere selbst anzueignen – Unterstützung vorausgesetzt. „Besonders das Schreiben mit der eigenen Hand ist wichtig für die Vernetzung der beiden Gehirnhälften“, sagt Katharina. Dafür nehmen sich die Eltern Zeit. Die Kinder führen Tagebuch. Außerdem halten es die Eltern für wichtig, den Kindern Werte und Tugenden wie Dankbarkeit, Verlässlichkeit, Beharrlichkeit, Aufrichtigkeit, Ehrlichkeit und die zehn Gebote zu vermitteln. Katharina und Johannes sind beide religiös begleitet aufgewachsen. Heute sehen sie die Kirche als Institution kritisch. Angebunden an die Schöpfung und im Gottvertrauen erschaffen und schöpfen sie Leben und Lebensraum aus eigener Kraft – so erklärt es uns Katharina.

Ein weiteres Thema sind die Funktionen des Körpers und wie sich die Kinder gesund erhalten können. Vieles lernen sie dabei in der Physiotherapiepraxis. Die Familie hat das Privileg, in ihrem eigenen Biorhythmus leben zu können. „Das macht sehr viel aus – wir sind alle gesund“, sagt Katharina. Der Lern- und Arbeitstag beginnt nicht vor 9 Uhr und hat eine eigene Struktur. Im Tagesablauf sind feste Verantwortlichkeiten integriert. So wechseln sich die Kinder aller drei Tage mit Tischdecken, Staubsaugen und Geschirrspüler ab. Das hilft ihnen, sich selbst zu organisieren. Das geht nicht immer reibungslos vonstatten. Wenn das Lernpensum beizeiten abgearbeitet wurde, helfen die Kinder im Haushalt oder Garten oder gehen ihrem Bewegungsdrang auf andere Weise nach. Die Eltern sind am Abend noch länger aktiv, denn die Praxis erfordert noch die eine oder andere bürokratische Pflicht. Die Familie ist sehr naturverbunden. Sie gehen viel in den Wald und in den Garten. Sie bauen selbst Gemüse und Obst an. Dabei können die Kinder zum Beispiel Erfahrungen mit Permakultur und natürlicher Düngung sammeln. Die Familie achtet auf die Ernährung, schließlich ist Katharina seit fast 25 Jahren Ernährungsberaterin. Was sie nicht selbst anbauen, wird beim Bauern des Vertrauens eingekauft. Die Jungs können selbst kochen und backen. Die Schädlichkeit von Zucker ist den Kindern schon bewusst geworden, ohne gänzlich auf Schokolade verzichten zu müssen. Medikamente gibt es im Haushalt nicht. Sie kennen sich sehr gut mit den Heilmitteln aus der Natur aus und können so ihre Selbstheilungskräfte aktivieren. Sie haben keinen Hausarzt. Natürlich hat keines der Kinder ein Handy. Bisher haben sie noch kein Verlangen danach. Die Eltern halten es für wichtig, dass die Kinder erst sicher bei Selbstorganisation und Tagesstruktur sind, bevor sie ein Handy bekommen. Katharina weist darauf hin, dass beispielsweise WhatsApp erst ab 16 Jahren zugelassen ist, und fragt sich, ob das andere Eltern wissen.

Gesetze auf Augenhöhe auslegen

Den Behörden blieben die Freilerner nicht verborgen. Sie wurden aktiv und schalteten das Familiengericht ein. Die Familie hatte keinen Anwalt und keine Rechtsschutzversicherung. Katharina erzählt uns, dass sie schließlich auf „Hilfe von oben“ gehofft habe. Irgendwer hat sie anscheinend erhört, denn sie bekamen „einen Engel“ als Verfahrensbeistand. Die Behörden waren sehr zugänglich. In den Gesprächen gab man zu, mit der Schulsituation ebenfalls nicht zufrieden zu sein. „Wir wollen so wie ihr, dass sich etwas verändert. Wir sind an Eurer Seite.“ Die Gespräche mit dem Jugendamt und der Richterin vom Familiengericht Grimma waren immer auf Augenhöhe. Schließlich legte man der Familie keine Steine in den Weg. Damit kann Katharina ihr Konzept nach außen leben und andere inspirieren. Ihre Schlussfolgerung: Eltern müssen sich ihrer Stärken bewusst werden und aus ihrer Angst herauskommen. Das Konzept muss aber zur Familie passen, denn jede Familie ist anders.

Die Basis für freies Lernen ist das Vertrauen der Eltern in ihre Kinder. Denn Kinder sind von Natur aus wissbegierig und wollen lernen. Katharina hat viel von Bertrand Stern und von Riccardo Leppe gelernt. Beiden wurde von ihren Eltern das Lernen ohne Schulbesuch ermöglicht. Mit Bertrand Stern hat Katharina Kontakt. Er wird im November am Buß- und Bettag eine kleine Fortbildung im Therapie- und Seminarzentrum geben. Für den Vorabend ist ein Vortrag geplant. Katharina zitiert Riccardo Leppe: „Es ändert sich nur was, wenn man es selbst tut.“ Er sei sich sicher, dass der Fortschritt beim Freilernen inzwischen so weit ist, dass „die Paste nicht wieder zurück in die Tube geht“.

Der Übergang zur Berufsausbildung

Die ersten Freilernerkinder kommen jetzt in das Alter, in dem sie eine Berufsausbildung beginnen können. Aurelius und Benjamin, die beiden „Großen“, machen seit Anfang des Jahres schon erste Praktika bei ortsansässigen Handwerksbetrieben. Beide Seiten sind sehr zufrieden. Durch die Praktika, die länger dauern als im schulischen Lehrplan vorgesehen, können sich die Kinder ausprobieren. Katharina findet es interessant miterleben zu dürfen, wie auf ihre Kinder reagiert wird. Bringen sie etwas mit, das die anderen nicht haben? Denken sie anders mit? Benjamin bekam schon ein Angebot, in einem Metallbau-Betrieb stundenweise mitzuarbeiten. In den Betrieben weiß man, dass die Abschlüsse der staatlichen Schulen größtenteils das Papier nicht wert sind, auf dem sie stehen. Viele verlassen die Schule und können kaum lesen und schreiben, von Selbstorganisation ganz zu schweigen. Ein Freilerner kann eine staatliche Externen-Prüfung ablegen, um einen Haupt- oder Realschulabschluss zu erwerben. Katharina: „Für eine Ausbildung bei einem privaten Unternehmer braucht man das nicht, allein der Unternehmer entscheidet über die Aufnahme des Auszubildenden“. Außerdem stehen den jungen Leuten Privatschulen oder der zweite Bildungsweg zur Verfügung. Wenn man einen praktischen Beruf ergreift, ist es immer noch möglich, sich bis zur Hochschulreife weiterzubilden. Nach mehrjährigen Tätigkeiten kann man bei den Kammern von Industrie, Handel und Handwerk (IHK und HWK) eine Abschlussprüfung ablegen, mit der man zum Studium zugelassen werden kann. Oder man geht gleich den Weg in die Selbstständigkeit.

Frei lernen weitergedacht

Während der Coronazeit haben sich in Sachsen und speziell um Leipzig herum kleine Freilernergruppen gefunden. Die Gruppen werden aktuell zusammengeführt, um zum Beispiel gemeinsam den Mathematikunterricht zu gestalten. Besonders um Dresden herum ist die Szene noch stärker ausgeprägt. Außerdem gibt es seit mehr als 20 Jahren den Bundesverband Natürlich Lernen (BVNL). Er bietet Beratung und zentrale Veranstaltungen an.

Der Wunsch nach dem freien Lernen ohne Schulzwang ist groß. Doch die meisten Eltern wollen ihre Kinder dafür irgendwo abgeben und nicht selbst unterrichten. Katharinas größter Wunsch ist es, drei bis fünf Elternpaare zu finden, die sich in die Betreuung und Unterrichtung ihrer Kinder teilen. Das größte Hindernis dafür sieht sie in den Eltern selbst. Durch ungelöste transgenerative Konflikte und unverarbeitete Familientraumata kommen sie noch nicht in ihre eigene Kraft für ein selbstbestimmtes Leben. Viele wagen es noch nicht, ihre Erwerbstätigkeit zugunsten der Kinder einzuschränken. Katharina sieht es als große Aufgabe für sich und ihre Familie, mit dem Freilernen das Gemeinschaftsbewusstsein und gute Konfliktlösungsstrategien zu entwickeln. Sie denkt dabei bereits an ihre Enkel. Aber sie weiß auch, dass die Eltern ein sehr hohes Maß an Eigeninitiative, Motivation und Selbstdisziplin aufbringen müssen. Sie würde Eltern, die sich das noch nicht zutrauen, als Traumabegleiterin zur Verfügung stehen, für einen angemessenen Energieausgleich. Diese gegenseitige Unterstützung käme Kindern und Eltern zugute. Ebenso hält sie die Idee der Mehrgenerationenerziehung für wichtig. Dabei profitieren nicht nur die Kinder. Die Erfahrungen der älteren Menschen gehen nicht verloren, sondern werden an die jüngeren Generationen weitergegeben und machen sie resilienter. Das hilft den Eltern, ihrer Erwerbsarbeit nachzugehen und Familientraumata zu bewältigen.

Katharina ist eine starke Frau und sprüht nur so vor Energie. Selbst als wir nach 21 Uhr das Therapiezentrum verlassen, sind ihr die Anstrengungen des Tages nicht anzumerken. Sie wird nicht müde beim Sprechen. Für Fragen zum Thema Freilernen kann man sich an sie wenden.

Der Text wurde zuerst am 27.05.2025 im Blog „Freie Akademie für Medien und Journalismus“ veröffentlicht (https://www.freie-medienakademie.de/medien-plus/lernen-neu-gemacht)

Bildquelle: Salah Darwish, unsplash.com

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

🔴 LIVE: The Bitcoin Conference 2025 – Day 2

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This post 🔴 LIVE: The Bitcoin Conference 2025 – Day 2 first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Bitcoin Magazine.

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

GameStop Buys $513 Million Worth of Bitcoin

Video game retailer GameStop has purchased 4,710 Bitcoin worth approximately $513 million, marking another major corporate entry into Bitcoin treasury holdings as the trend of companies adding Bitcoin to their balance sheets accelerates in 2025.

The company announced the acquisition via X on Wednesday but did not disclose specific details about when the purchases were made or the average price paid per coin. The move follows GameStop’s March announcement of plans to pursue a Bitcoin treasury strategy, which included a $1.3 billion convertible senior notes offering to fund Bitcoin purchases.

BREAKING: GAMESTOP PURCHASED 4,710 #BITCOIN pic.twitter.com/fDH9ctZJVP

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) May 28, 2025

GameStop’s Bitcoin acquisition represents a strategic shift in corporate treasury management, following the playbook established by companies like Strategy.

The purchase comes amid a surge in corporate Bitcoin adoption, with over 50 public companies announcing Bitcoin treasury programs in the first five months of 2025. Recent entrants include 21 Capital, Strive, H100 Group and more.

The announcement pushed GameStop’s shares up 4.4% in pre-market trading, while Bitcoin traded near $108,900. The company reported $4.78 billion in cash and marketable securities as of February 1, suggesting this Bitcoin investment represents approximately 10.7% of its liquid assets.

The move follows similar treasury diversification strategies by other major corporations, including Tesla’s $1.25 billion Bitcoin holding and recent announcements from Trump Media and Technology Group of plans to raise $2.5 billion for Bitcoin purchases.

At press time, Bitcoin trades at $108,900, down 0.68% over the past 24 hours, as the market processes this significant institutional development and its implications for broader corporate adoption of Bitcoin as a treasury asset.

This post GameStop Buys $513 Million Worth of Bitcoin first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Vivek Sen.

@ a396e36e:ec991f1c

👤 Generation X and Bitcoin: Between Invisibility, Structural Disillusionment, and Defiance

Generation X, born between 1965 and 1980, has been largely sidelined in generational discourse. Unlike the baby boomers —symbols of stability and prosperity— or millennials and Gen Z —constant fixtures in the media and cultural spotlight— Gen X remains the least mentioned, the least studied, and often not even recognized by its own members as a distinct generation.

Today, they are in midlife —a period that, according to the U-shaped curve of happiness, is one of the most emotionally and psychologically difficult stages: deteriorating health, professional stagnation, and the dual burden of caring for both parents and children. But their condition is not just a matter of age —it’s the product of a unique convergence of economic and political failure.

Structurally, Generation X reached its crucial phase of financial consolidation during the global economic crisis of 2008 —a moment that froze wage growth and severely limited access to housing, investment opportunities, and savings. In parallel, they faced increasing labor precarization: unstable contracts, outsourcing, erosion of social protections, and the dismantling of job security. Compared to other generations, their economic mobility was minimal. Even in terms of wealth accumulation and home ownership, many Gen Xers show weaker indicators than early-born millennials at the same life stage.

At the same time, many countries —especially in Latin America and parts of Europe— turned toward alternative models to free-market systems: socialist proposals that promised redistribution, justice, and equality. But in practice, these models led to state dependency, excessive intervention, economic rigidity, and a loss of productive dynamism. The outcome was devastating: rising poverty, institutional decay, inflation, plummeting investment, growing corruption, and a widespread collapse of trust.

For a generation raised on values of effort, autonomy, and social mobility, this ideological shift brought a double betrayal —first from liberalism, which failed to deliver on its promises, and then from socialism, which entrenched poverty, dependency, and dysfunction.

And yet, while younger generations increasingly embrace state-centric proposals like universal basic income, subsidies, or nationalizations as progressive solutions, many in Gen X see these not as innovation, but as déjà vu —a recycling of failed models they’ve already lived and paid for.

It’s at this point that Bitcoin emerges as more than just a financial technology. For many Gen Xers, Bitcoin is both a symbolic and concrete response — a refuge from a system that betrayed them. It’s not just about investment. It’s about individual sovereignty. They call it “fuck you money” because it represents a total break from traditional structures: it doesn’t depend on banks, governments, political parties, or promises that never materialize.

Bitcoin is money without permission, without censorship, without planned devaluation. It’s a tool for radical autonomy. For a generation marked by skepticism, self-reliance, and disillusionment, it stands as a quiet but powerful form of resistance — a way of saying: “I don’t depend on you. I don’t believe you. I don’t need you.”

Today, while others debate new statist models or more market reforms, many Gen Xers are simply opting out. Bitcoin isn’t just an economic choice — it’s a stance. A way to reclaim the individual control the system once denied them.

@ 04c915da:3dfbecc9

Capitalism is the most effective system for scaling innovation. The pursuit of profit is an incredibly powerful human incentive. Most major improvements to human society and quality of life have resulted from this base incentive. Market competition often results in the best outcomes for all.

That said, some projects can never be monetized. They are open in nature and a business model would centralize control. Open protocols like bitcoin and nostr are not owned by anyone and if they were it would destroy the key value propositions they provide. No single entity can or should control their use. Anyone can build on them without permission.

As a result, open protocols must depend on donation based grant funding from the people and organizations that rely on them. This model works but it is slow and uncertain, a grind where sustainability is never fully reached but rather constantly sought. As someone who has been incredibly active in the open source grant funding space, I do not think people truly appreciate how difficult it is to raise charitable money and deploy it efficiently.

Projects that can be monetized should be. Profitability is a super power. When a business can generate revenue, it taps into a self sustaining cycle. Profit fuels growth and development while providing projects independence and agency. This flywheel effect is why companies like Google, Amazon, and Apple have scaled to global dominance. The profit incentive aligns human effort with efficiency. Businesses must innovate, cut waste, and deliver value to survive.

Contrast this with non monetized projects. Without profit, they lean on external support, which can dry up or shift with donor priorities. A profit driven model, on the other hand, is inherently leaner and more adaptable. It is not charity but survival. When survival is tied to delivering what people want, scale follows naturally.

The real magic happens when profitable, sustainable businesses are built on top of open protocols and software. Consider the many startups building on open source software stacks, such as Start9, Mempool, and Primal, offering premium services on top of the open source software they build out and maintain. Think of companies like Block or Strike, which leverage bitcoin’s open protocol to offer their services on top. These businesses amplify the open software and protocols they build on, driving adoption and improvement at a pace donations alone could never match.

When you combine open software and protocols with profit driven business the result are lean, sustainable companies that grow faster and serve more people than either could alone. Bitcoin’s network, for instance, benefits from businesses that profit off its existence, while nostr will expand as developers monetize apps built on the protocol.

Capitalism scales best because competition results in efficiency. Donation funded protocols and software lay the groundwork, while market driven businesses build on top. The profit incentive acts as a filter, ensuring resources flow to what works, while open systems keep the playing field accessible, empowering users and builders. Together, they create a flywheel of innovation, growth, and global benefit.

@ eb0157af:77ab6c55

Michigan lawmakers are unveiling a comprehensive strategy to regulate Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies.

On May 21, Republican Representative Bill Schuette introduced House Bill 4510, a proposal to amend the Michigan Public Employee Retirement System Investment Act. The legislation would allow the state treasurer, currently Rachael Eubanks, to diversify the state’s investments by including cryptocurrencies with an average market capitalization of over $250 million in the past calendar year.

Under current criteria, Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) are the only cryptocurrencies that meet these selection standards. The proposal specifies that any investment in digital assets must be made through exchange-traded products (spot ETFs) issued by registered investment companies.

Anti-CBDC legislation

Republican Representative Bryan Posthumus is leading the bipartisan initiative behind the second bill, HB 4511, which establishes protections for cryptocurrency holders. The proposal prohibits Michigan from implementing crypto bans or imposing licensing requirements on digital asset holders.

Another key aspect of the legislation is a ban on state officials from supporting or promoting a potential federal central bank digital currency (CBDC). The definition includes the issuance of memorandums or official statements endorsing CBDC proposals related to testing, adoption, or implementation.

Mining and redevelopment of abandoned sites

The third bill, HB 4512, is a proposal led by Democratic Representative Mike McFall for a bipartisan group. This initiative would establish a Bitcoin mining program allowing operators to use abandoned oil and natural gas sites.

The program calls for the appointment of a supervisor tasked with assessing the site’s remaining productive potential, identifying the last operator, and determining the length of abandonment. Prospective participants would need to submit detailed legal documentation of their organizational structure, demonstrate operational expertise in mining, and provide profitability breakeven estimates for their ventures.

The fourth and final bill, HB 4513, also introduced by the bipartisan group led by McFall, focuses on the fiscal aspect of the HB 4512 initiative. The proposal would amend Michigan’s income tax laws to include proceeds generated from the proposed Bitcoin mining program.

The post Michigan: four bills on pension funds, CBDCs, and mining appeared first on Atlas21.

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Bitcoin Magazine

Leaders Rally Behind BTC at Bitcoin 2025 Conference: Strategic Reserves, Market Clarity, and Legislative Momentum

At Bitcoin 2025, top U.S. lawmakers and Coinbase’s Chief Policy Officer discussed the U.S. government’s shifting tone on Bitcoin, strategic reserves, regulatory frameworks, and legislation—all pointing toward a bullish future for digital assets.

In a panel moderated by Grant McCarty, Co-President of the Bitcoin Policy Institute, the Bitcoin 2025 Conference saw a major spotlight on U.S. policy shifts surrounding digital assets. U.S. Representatives Byron Donalds and Bryan Steil were joined by Faryar Shirzad, Chief Policy Officer at Coinbase, to highlight what they described as a watershed moment for Bitcoin in Washington. 

JUST IN: US Congressman Byron Donalds says he's voting for the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Act

"Bitcoin has proven to be a holder of value" pic.twitter.com/NuQlZ26Lmy

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) May 27, 2025

“What the president and his team are doing is choosing to step into the digital assets marketplace,” said Byron Donalds. “Bitcoin is a key asset because it has demonstrated to be a holder of value outside of fiat currency and central banking.” Donalds emphasized that President Trump is taking the long view—strategically recognizing Bitcoin’s role in a national reserve capacity.

Bryan Steil pointed to Trump’s media magnetism and political leverage as the driver behind recent legislative momentum: “What he’s done is put a spotlight on the exact three bills… giving us the ability to drive forward.” He noted that legislation is difficult to pass, but with executive support, there’s newfound energy and opportunity to cross the finish line.

Shirzad echoed that sentiment: “The tone from the top point is exactly what Donald Trump has showed us… He wants a market structure built. He wants a much more strategic approach.” Coinbase, Shirzad added, sees the impact firsthand—legislators now recognize the need to support innovation rather than stifle it.

Donalds added: “If you talk to any business owner in the world, the number one thing they desire more than anything else is certainty and consistency.” That, he said, is what will turn Bitcoin into a trillion-dollar industry in the U.S., instead of one bogged down by regulatory ambiguity and legal overhead.

On the regulatory front, Steil noted: “Under the Biden administration, policy was being developed through enforcement actions. Bitcoin is decentralized and should be treated as a commodity.” Shirzad agreed, pushing for “regulatory therapy” to unleash billions still sidelined.

McCarty closed with mention of the Blockchain Regulatory Clarity Act—legislation that would protect open-source developers from rogue regulatory action: “It allows developers to operate without being punished.”

Donalds summed it up: “There’s only going to be 21 million ever in creation. That can’t be eroded by central banks. A strategic reserve for Bitcoin is critical in my opinion for the United States.” 

This post Leaders Rally Behind BTC at Bitcoin 2025 Conference: Strategic Reserves, Market Clarity, and Legislative Momentum first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Jenna Montgomery.

@ 005bc4de:ef11e1a2

BIP-2,100,000,000,000,000,000

So, you're telling me...

• 21 million bitcoins is out, and...
• 2.1 quadrillion sats is in, except that...
• sats are out, so...
• 2.1 quadrillion bitcoins is in, except that...
• there are actually millisats, but...
• millisats are out, so...
• millibitcoins are in, so now...
• there are 2.1 quintillion millibitcoins, except that...
• millibitcoins are the basic base unit of bitcoin, so...
• millibitcoins are out, and now...
• 2.1 quintillion bitcoins are in

@ 9ca447d2:fbf5a36d

Panama City may be the next Latin American city to adopt bitcoin, after El Salvador.

Panama City Mayor Mayer Mizrachi has got the bitcoin world excited after hinting that the city might have a bitcoin reserve. The speculation started on May 16 when Mizrachi posted a simple but powerful message on X:

Two words. That’s it. What makes it special is that it came after a high-profile meeting with Max Keiser and Stacy Herbert, two key figures behind El Salvador’s bitcoin strategy.

Keiser is an advisor to El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele and Herbert leads the country’s Bitcoin Office.

El Salvador became the first country to adopt bitcoin as legal tender back in 2021. Since then, it has been building a national bitcoin reserve, currently holding 6,179 BTC worth around $640 million. It’s also using geothermal energy to power bitcoin mining in an eco-friendly way.

El Salvador’s bitcoin treasury — Bitcoin.gob.sv

Mizrachi’s meeting with Keiser and Herbert was about how Panama could do the same. While the details of the conversation are private, Keiser shared on social media that the two countries will play a big role in the future of Bitcoin.

“Bitcoin is transforming Central America,” Keiser wrote. “El Salvador’s geothermal & Panama’s hydro-electric will power the Bitcoin revolution.”

Max Keiser on X

Panama with its hydroelectric power could be a hub for green bitcoin mining.

Mizrachi has not announced a bitcoin reserve plan nor submitted a proposal to the National Assembly. But his post and public appearances suggest it’s being considered.

He will be speaking at the upcoming Bitcoin 2025 Conference in Las Vegas just days after his social media post. Many expect he will share more about Panama City’s bitcoin plans during his talk.

If Mizrachi pushes for a bitcoin reserve, he will need to work with national lawmakers to pass new legislation. So far, there is no evidence of that.

Even without a bitcoin reserve, Panama City is already going big on digital assets.

In April 2025, the city council approved a measure to allow residents to pay taxes, fees, fines and permits with digital currencies. Supported tokens are bitcoin (BTC), ethereum (ETH), USD Coin (USDC) and Tether (USDT).

To comply with financial laws, the city has partnered with a bank that instantly converts these digital assets into U.S. dollars. According to Mizrachi, this way it’s easier for residents to use digital assets and the city’s financial operations will be transparent and legal.

Another part of the meeting with El Salvador’s advisors was education.

Stacy Herbert confirmed that Panama City will be integrating El Salvador’s financial literacy book, “What is Money?” into their digital library system. The goal is to help students, teachers and the general public understand bitcoin and digital currencies in modern finance.

This is a trend in Latin America where countries are looking for alternatives to traditional banking systems. Inflation, economic instability and the rise of decentralized finance are forcing governments to look into new financial tools.

@ 21335073:a244b1ad

I want to see Nostr succeed. If you can think of a way I can help make that happen, I’m open to it. I’d like your suggestions.

My schedule’s shifting soon, and I could volunteer a few hours a week to a Nostr project. I won’t have more total time, but how I use it will change.

Why help? I care about freedom. Nostr’s one of the most powerful freedom tools I’ve seen in my lifetime. If I believe that, I should act on it.

I don’t care about money or sats. I’m not rich, I don’t have extra cash. That doesn’t drive me—freedom does. I’m volunteering, not asking for pay.

I’m not here for clout. I’ve had enough spotlight in my life; it doesn’t move me. If I wanted clout, I’d be on Twitter dropping basic takes. Clout’s easy. Freedom’s hard. I’d rather help anonymously. No speaking at events—small meetups are cool for the vibe, but big conferences? Not my thing. I’ll never hit a huge Bitcoin conference. It’s just not my scene.

That said, I could be convinced to step up if it’d really boost Nostr—as long as it’s legal and gets results.

In this space, I’d watch for social engineering. I watch out for it. I’m not here to make friends, just to help. No shade—you all seem great—but I’ve got a full life and awesome friends irl. I don’t need your crew or to be online cool. Connect anonymously if you want; I’d encourage it.

I’m sick of watching other social media alternatives grow while Nostr kinda stalls. I could trash-talk, but I’d rather do something useful.

Skills? I’m good at spotting social media problems and finding possible solutions. I won’t overhype myself—that’s weird—but if you’re responding, you probably see something in me. Perhaps you see something that I don’t see in myself.

If you need help now or later with Nostr projects, reach out. Nostr only—nothing else. Anonymous contact’s fine. Even just a suggestion on how I can pitch in, no project attached, works too. 💜

Creeps or harassment will get blocked or I’ll nuke my simplex code if it becomes a problem.

https://simplex.chat/contact#/?v=2-4&smp=smp%3A%2F%2FSkIkI6EPd2D63F4xFKfHk7I1UGZVNn6k1QWZ5rcyr6w%3D%40smp9.simplex.im%2FbI99B3KuYduH8jDr9ZwyhcSxm2UuR7j0%23%2F%3Fv%3D1-2%26dh%3DMCowBQYDK2VuAyEAS9C-zPzqW41PKySfPCEizcXb1QCus6AyDkTTjfyMIRM%253D%26srv%3Djssqzccmrcws6bhmn77vgmhfjmhwlyr3u7puw4erkyoosywgl67slqqd.onion

@ 04c915da:3dfbecc9

Bitcoin has always been rooted in freedom and resistance to authority. I get that many of you are conflicted about the US Government stacking but by design we cannot stop anyone from using bitcoin. Many have asked me for my thoughts on the matter, so let’s rip it.

Concern

One of the most glaring issues with the strategic bitcoin reserve is its foundation, built on stolen bitcoin. For those of us who value private property this is an obvious betrayal of our core principles. Rather than proof of work, the bitcoin that seeds this reserve has been taken by force. The US Government should return the bitcoin stolen from Bitfinex and the Silk Road.

Usually stolen bitcoin for the reserve creates a perverse incentive. If governments see a bitcoin as a valuable asset, they will ramp up efforts to confiscate more bitcoin. The precedent is a major concern, and I stand strongly against it, but it should be also noted that governments were already seizing coin before the reserve so this is not really a change in policy.

Ideally all seized bitcoin should be burned, by law. This would align incentives properly and make it less likely for the government to actively increase coin seizures. Due to the truly scarce properties of bitcoin, all burned bitcoin helps existing holders through increased purchasing power regardless. This change would be unlikely but those of us in policy circles should push for it regardless. It would be best case scenario for American bitcoiners and would create a strong foundation for the next century of American leadership.

Optimism

The entire point of bitcoin is that we can spend or save it without permission. That said, it is a massive benefit to not have one of the strongest governments in human history actively trying to ruin our lives.

Since the beginning, bitcoiners have faced horrible regulatory trends. KYC, surveillance, and legal cases have made using bitcoin and building bitcoin businesses incredibly difficult. It is incredibly important to note that over the past year that trend has reversed for the first time in a decade. A strategic bitcoin reserve is a key driver of this shift. By holding bitcoin, the strongest government in the world has signaled that it is not just a fringe technology but rather truly valuable, legitimate, and worth stacking.

This alignment of incentives changes everything. The US Government stacking proves bitcoin’s worth. The resulting purchasing power appreciation helps all of us who are holding coin and as bitcoin succeeds our government receives direct benefit. A beautiful positive feedback loop.

Realism

We are trending in the right direction. A strategic bitcoin reserve is a sign that the state sees bitcoin as an asset worth embracing rather than destroying. That said, there is a lot of work left to be done. We cannot be lulled into complacency, the time to push forward is now, and we cannot take our foot off the gas. We have a seat at the table for the first time ever. Let's make it worth it.

We must protect the right to free usage of bitcoin and other digital technologies. Freedom in the digital age must be taken and defended, through both technical and political avenues. Multiple privacy focused developers are facing long jail sentences for building tools that protect our freedom. These cases are not just legal battles. They are attacks on the soul of bitcoin. We need to rally behind them, fight for their freedom, and ensure the ethos of bitcoin survives this new era of government interest. The strategic reserve is a step in the right direction, but it is up to us to hold the line and shape the future.

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

US Senator Cynthia Lummis Discusses Bitcoin Reserve, Stablecoin Legislation, and Market Structure Bill at Bitcoin 2025 Conference

At the 2025 Bitcoin Conference in Las Vegas, U.S Senator Cynthia Lummis and CLO of Coinbase Paul Grewal discussed the market structure bill, stablecoin bill, future taxing system, bitcoin strategy reserve and bitcoin mining. 

Cynthia Lummis started by commenting about the market structure bill and stablecoin bill.

“The market structure bills is probably more important to a lot of the people in this conference than the stablecoin bill because there are a lot of businesses, yours among them,” said Lummis. “There are businesses for people who either buy and hold, so they want a custodial service or there are companies that lend Bitcoin, there is a futures market for Bitcoin, there are so many ways in which Bitcoin can interface with fiat currency with the US dollar.”

Lummis also mentioned the tax system that she wants to implement and what her office has submitted to the finance committee.

“As the lighting network develops and companies like Strike sort of have been leaders in that space,” added Lummis. “Create an opportunity for transactions to occur on a daily basis in Bitcoin. Everything from buying a cup of coffee to dinner somewhere. It would be helpful that certain transactions of that size below 600 dollars per transaction, not be subject to taxation.” 

During her speech, she went into detail on one the biggest problems lawmakers are facing against digital assets.

“Part of the problem in the last four years has been largely regulatory agencies that have been very hostile towards digital assets, so we are trying to change as fast as we can,” said Lummis. “It doesn’t happen overnight. We don’t even have a confirmed IRS director in place yet, so it is really hard to get these structural changes enacted by the rule makers at the IRS when there is no IRS commission yet in place.” 

Ending the panel, Lummis addressed one of the biggest reasons the US government should get into Bitcoin. 

“We are 37 trillion dollars in debt, so if we bought and held a million Bitcoin for 20 years it will cut that debt in half and we have underperforming assets that can be converted to Bitcoin without borrowing additional money. Bitcoin is such an important Global Strategic asset and it is not only important in the economy, but in our global defense because there are components to our defense. One is having a lethal war fighting machine that can overcome other armies, another military effort. Another one is having an economic machine that can overcome other currencies.” She continued, “Even our military generals say that bitcoin is an important deterrent to aggression from other countries, especially from China.”  

This post US Senator Cynthia Lummis Discusses Bitcoin Reserve, Stablecoin Legislation, and Market Structure Bill at Bitcoin 2025 Conference first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Oscar Zarraga Perez.

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

🔴 LIVE: The Bitcoin Conference 2025 – Day 2

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This post 🔴 LIVE: The Bitcoin Conference 2025 – Day 2 first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Bitcoin Magazine.

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ถ้าอยากแล้วไม่หลง มันก็อยากด้วยปัญญา ความอยากอย่างนี้ท่านเรียกว่า เป็นบารมีของตน แต่ไม่ใช่ทุกคนนะที่มีปัญญา

บางคนไม่อยากจะให้มันอยาก เพราะเข้าใจว่า การมาปฏิบัติก็เพื่อระงับความอยาก ความจริงน่ะ ถ้าหากว่าไม่มีความอยาก ก็ไม่มีข้อปฏิบัติ ไม่รู้ว่าจะทำอะไร ลองพิจารณาดูก็ได้

ทุกคน แม้องค์พระพุทธเจ้าของเราก็ตาม ที่ท่านออกมาปฏิบัติ ก็เพื่อจะให้บรรเทากิเลสทั้งหลายนั้น

แต่ว่ามันต้องอยากทำ อยากปฏิบัติ อยากให้มันสงบ และก็ไม่อยากให้มันวุ่นวาย ทั้งสองอย่างนี้ มันเป็นอุปสรรคทั้งนั้น ถ้าเราไม่มีปัญญา ไม่มีความฉลาดในการกระทำอย่างนั้น เพราะว่ามันปนกันอยู่ อยากทั้งสองอย่างนี้มันมีราคาเท่า ๆ กัน

อยากจะพ้นทุกข์มันเป็นกิเลส สำหรับคนไม่มีปัญญา อยากด้วยความโง่ ไม่อยากมันก็เป็นกิเลส เพราะไม่อยากอันนั้นมันประกอบด้วยความโง่เหมือนกัน คือทั้งอยาก ไม่อยาก ปัญญาก็ไม่มี ทั้งสองอย่างนี้ มันเป็นกามสุขัลลิกานุโยโค กับอัตตกิลมถานุโยโค ซึ่งพระพุทธองค์ของเรา ขณะที่พระองค์กำลังทรงปฏิบัติอยู่นั้น ท่านก็หลงใหลในอย่างนี้ ไม่รู้ว่าจะทำอย่างไร ท่านหาอุบายหลายประการ กว่าจะพบของสองสิ่งนี้

ทุกวันนี้เราทั้งหลายก็เหมือนกัน ทุกสิ่งทั้งสองอย่างนี้มันกวนอยู่ เราจึงเข้าสู่ทางไม่ได้ก็เพราะอันนี้ ความเป็นจริงนี้ทุกคนที่มาปฏิบัติ ก็เป็นปุถุชนมาทั้งนั้น ปุถุชนก็เต็มไปด้วยความอยาก ความอยากที่ไม่มีปัญญา อยากด้วยความหลง ไม่อยากมันก็มีโทษเหมือนกัน “ไม่อยาก” มันก็เป็นตัณหา “อยาก” มันก็เป็นตัณหาอีกเหมือนกัน

ทีนี้ นักปฏิบัติยังไม่รู้เรื่องว่า จะเอายังไงกัน เดินไปข้างหน้าก็ไม่ถูก เดินกลับไปข้างหลังก็ไม่ถูก จะหยุดก็หยุดไม่ได้เพราะมันยังอยากอยู่ มันยังหลงอยู่ มีแต่ความอยาก แต่ปัญญาไม่มี มันอยากด้วยความหลง มันก็เป็นตัณหา ถึงแม้ไม่อยาก มันก็เป็นความหลง มันก็เป็นตัณหาเหมือนกันเพราะอะไร? เพราะมันขาดปัญญา

ความเป็นจริงนั้น ธรรมะมันอยู่ตรงนั้นแหละ ตรงความอยากกับความไม่อยากนั่นแหละ แต่เราไม่มีปัญญา ก็พยายามไม่ให้อยากบ้าง เดี๋ยวก็อยากบ้าง อยากให้เป็นอย่างนั้น ไม่อยากให้เป็นอย่างนี้ ความจริงทั้งสองอย่างนี้ หรือทั้งคู่นี้มันตัวเดียวกันทั้งนั้น ไม่ใช่คนละตัว แต่เราไม่รู้เรื่องของมัน

พระพุทธเจ้าของเรา และสาวกทั้งหลายของพระองค์นั้นท่านก็อยากเหมือนกัน แต่ “อยาก” ของท่านนั้น เป็นเพียงอาการของจิตเฉย ๆ หรือ “ไม่อยาก” ของท่าน ก็เป็นเพียงอาการของจิตเฉย ๆ อีกเหมือนกัน มันวูบเดียวเท่านั้น ก็หายไปแล้ว

ดังนั้น ความอยากหรือไม่อยากนี้ มันมีอยู่ตลอดเวลาแต่สำหรับผู้มีปัญญานั้น “อยาก” ก็ไม่มีอุปาทาน “ไม่อยาก” ก็ไม่มีอุปาทาน เป็น “สักแต่ว่า” อยากหรือไม่อยากเท่านั้น ถ้าพูดตามความจริงแล้ว มันก็เป็นแต่ "อาการของจิต" อาการของจิตมันเป็นของมันอย่างนั้นเอง ถ้าเรามาตะครุบมันอยู่ใกล้ ๆ นี่มันก็เห็นชัด

ดังนั้นจึงว่า การพิจารณานั้น ไม่ใช่รู้ไปที่อื่น มันรู้ตรงนี้แหละ เหมือนชาวประมงที่ออกไปทอดแหนั่นแหละ ทอดแหออกไปถูกปลาตัวใหญ่ เจ้าของผู้ทอดแหจะคิดอย่างไร? ก็กลัว กลัวปลาจะออกจากแหไปเสีย เมื่อเป็นเช่นนั้น ใจมันก็ดิ้นรนขึ้นระวังมาก บังคับมาก ตะครุบไปตะครุบมาอยู่นั่นแหละ ประเดี๋ยวปลามันก็ออกจากแหไปเสีย เพราะไปตะครุบมันแรงเกินไป

อย่างนั้นโบราณท่านพูดถึงเรื่องอันนี้ ท่านว่าค่อย ๆ ทำมัน แต่อย่าไปห่างจากมัน นี่คือปฏิปทาของเรา ค่อย ๆ คลำมันไปเรื่อย ๆ อย่างนั้นแหละ

อย่าปล่อยมัน หรือไม่อยากรู้มัน ต้องรู้ ต้องรู้เรื่องของมัน พยายามทำมันไปเรื่อย ๆ ให้เป็นปฏิปทา ขี้เกียจเราก็ทำไม่ขี้เกียจเราก็ทำ เรียกว่าการทำการปฏิบัติ ต้องทำไปเรื่อยๆอย่างนี้

ถ้าหากว่าเราขยัน ขยันเพราะความเชื่อ มันมีศรัทธาแต่ปัญญาไม่มี ถ้าเป็นอย่างนี้ ขยันไป ๆ แล้วมันก็ไม่เกิดผลอะไรขึ้นมากมาย ขยันไปนาน ๆ เข้า แต่มันไม่ถูกทาง มันก็ไม่สงบระงับ ทีนี้ก็จะเกิดความคิดว่า เรานี้บุญน้อยหรือวาสนาน้อย หรือคิดไปว่ามนุษย์ในโลกนี้คงทำไม่ได้หรอก แล้วก็เลยหยุดเลิกทำเลิกปฏิบัติ

ถ้าเกิดความคิดอย่างนี้เมื่อใด ขอให้ระวังให้มาก ให้มีขันติ ความอดทน ให้ทำไปเรื่อย ๆ เหมือนกับเราจับปลาตัวใหญ่ ก็ให้ค่อย ๆ คลำมันไปเรื่อย ๆ ปลามันก็จะไม่ดิ้นแรงค่อย ๆทำไปเรื่อย ๆ ไม่หยุด ไม่ช้าปลาก็จะหมดกำลัง มันก็จับง่าย จับให้ถนัดมือเลย ถ้าเรารีบจนเกินไป ปลามันก็จะหนีดิ้นออกจากแหเท่านั้น

ดังนั้น การปฏิบัตินี้ ถ้าเราพิจารณาตามพื้นเหตุของเรา เช่นว่า เราไม่มีความรู้ในปริยัติ ไม่มีความรู้ในอะไรอื่น ที่จะให้การปฏิบัติมันเกิดผลขึ้น ก็ดูความรู้ที่เป็นพื้นเพเดิมของเรานั่นแหละอันนั้นก็คือ “ธรรมชาติของจิต” นี่เอง มันมีของมันอยู่แล้ว เราจะไปเรียนรู้มัน มันก็มีอยู่ หรือเราจะไม่ไปเรียนรู้มัน มันก็มีอยู่

อย่างที่ท่านพูดว่า พระพุทธเจ้าจะบังเกิดขึ้นก็ตาม หรือไม่บังเกิดขึ้นก็ตาม ธรรมะก็คงมีอยู่อย่างนั้น มันเป็นของมันอยู่อย่างนั้น ไม่พลิกแพลงไปไหน มันเป็นสัจจธรรม

เราไม่เข้าใจสัจจธรรม ก็ไม่รู้ว่าสัจจธรรมเป็นอย่างไร นี้เรียกว่า การพิจารณาในความรู้ของผู้ปฏิบัติที่ไม่มีพื้นปริยัติ

ขอให้ดูจิต พยายามอ่านจิตของเจ้าของ พยายามพูดกับจิตของเจ้าของ มันจึงจะรู้เรื่องของจิต ค่อย ๆ ทำไป ถ้ายังไม่ถึงที่ของมัน มันก็ไปอยู่อย่างนั้น

ครูบาอาจารย์บางท่านบอกว่า ทำไปเรื่อย ๆ อย่าหยุด บางทีเรามาคิด “เออ ทำไปเรื่อย ๆ ถ้าไม่รู้เรื่องของมัน ถ้าทำไม่ถูกที่มัน มันจะรู้อะไร” อย่างนี้เป็นต้น ก็ต้องไปเรื่อย ๆ ก่อน แล้วมันก็จะเกิดความรู้สึกนึกคิดขึ้นในสิ่งที่เราพากเพียรทำนั้น

มันเหมือนกันกับบุรุษที่ไปสีไฟ ได้ฟังท่านบอกว่า เอาไม้ไผ่สองอันมาสีกันเข้าไปเถอะ แล้วจะมีไฟเกิดขึ้น บุรุษนั้นก็จับไม้ไผ่เข้าสองอัน สีกันเข้า แต่ใจร้อน สีไปได้หน่อย ก็อยากให้มันเป็นไฟ ใจก็เร่งอยู่เรื่อย ให้เป็นไฟเร็วๆ แต่ไฟก็ไม่เกิดสักที บุรุษนั้นก็เกิดความขี้เกียจ แล้วก็หยุดพัก แล้วจึงลองสีอีกนิด แล้วก็หยุดพัก ความร้อนที่พอมีอยู่บ้าง ก็หายไปล่ะซิ เพราะความร้อนมันไม่ติดต่อกัน

ถ้าทำไปเรื่อยๆอย่างนี้ เหนื่อยก็หยุด มีแต่เหนื่อยอย่างเดียวก็พอได้ แต่มีขี้เกียจปนเข้าด้วย เลยไปกันใหญ่ แล้วบุรุษนั้นก็หาว่าไฟไม่มี ไม่เอาไฟ ก็ทิ้ง เลิก ไม่สีอีก แล้วก็ไปเที่ยวประกาศว่า ไฟไม่มี ทำอย่างนี้ไม่ได้ ไม่มีไฟหรอก เขาได้ลองทำแล้ว

ก็จริงเหมือนกันที่ได้ทำแล้ว แต่ทำยังไม่ถึงจุดของมันคือความร้อนยังไม่สมดุลกัน ไฟมันก็เกิดขึ้นไม่ได้ ทั้งที่ความจริงไฟมันก็มีอยู่ อย่างนี้ก็เกิดความท้อแท้ขึ้นในใจของผู้ปฏิบัตินั้น ก็ละอันนี้ไปทำอันโน้นเรื่อยไป อันนี้ฉันใดก็ฉันนั้น

การปฏิบัตินั้น ปฏิบัติทางกายทางใจทั้งสองอย่าง มันต้องพร้อมกัน เพราะอะไร? เพราะพื้นเพมันเป็นคนมีกิเลสทั้งนั้น พระพุทธเจ้าก่อนที่จะเป็นพระพุทธเจ้า ท่านก็มีกิเลสแต่ท่านมีปัญญามากหลาย พระอรหันต์ก็เหมือนกัน เมื่อยังเป็นปุถุชนอยู่ ก็เหมือนกับเรา

เมื่อความอยากเกิดขึ้นมา เราก็ไม่รู้จัก เมื่อความไม่อยากเกิดขึ้นมา เราก็ไม่รู้จัก บางทีก็ร้อนใจ บางทีก็ดีใจ ถ้าใจเราไม่อยาก ก็ดีใจแบบหนึ่ง และวุ่นวายอีกแบบหนึ่ง ถ้าใจเราอยาก มันก็วุ่นวายอย่างหนึ่ง และดีใจอย่างหนึ่ง มันประสมประเสกันอยู่อย่างนี้

อันนี้คือปฏิปทาของผู้ปฏิบัติเรา

[อ่านใจธรรมชาติ] หลวงปู่ชา สุภัทโท หนังสือ หมวด: โพธิญาณ

@ 04c915da:3dfbecc9

There is something quietly rebellious about stacking sats. In a world obsessed with instant gratification, choosing to patiently accumulate Bitcoin, one sat at a time, feels like a middle finger to the hype machine. But to do it right, you have got to stay humble. Stack too hard with your head in the clouds, and you will trip over your own ego before the next halving even hits.

Small Wins

Stacking sats is not glamorous. Discipline. Stacking every day, week, or month, no matter the price, and letting time do the heavy lifting. Humility lives in that consistency. You are not trying to outsmart the market or prove you are the next "crypto" prophet. Just a regular person, betting on a system you believe in, one humble stack at a time. Folks get rekt chasing the highs. They ape into some shitcoin pump, shout about it online, then go silent when they inevitably get rekt. The ones who last? They stack. Just keep showing up. Consistency. Humility in action. Know the game is long, and you are not bigger than it.

Ego is Volatile

Bitcoin’s swings can mess with your head. One day you are up 20%, feeling like a genius and the next down 30%, questioning everything. Ego will have you panic selling at the bottom or over leveraging the top. Staying humble means patience, a true bitcoin zen. Do not try to "beat” Bitcoin. Ride it. Stack what you can afford, live your life, and let compounding work its magic.

Simplicity

There is a beauty in how stacking sats forces you to rethink value. A sat is worth less than a penny today, but every time you grab a few thousand, you plant a seed. It is not about flaunting wealth but rather building it, quietly, without fanfare. That mindset spills over. Cut out the noise: the overpriced coffee, fancy watches, the status games that drain your wallet. Humility is good for your soul and your stack. I have a buddy who has been stacking since 2015. Never talks about it unless you ask. Lives in a decent place, drives an old truck, and just keeps stacking. He is not chasing clout, he is chasing freedom. That is the vibe: less ego, more sats, all grounded in life.

The Big Picture

Stack those sats. Do it quietly, do it consistently, and do not let the green days puff you up or the red days break you down. Humility is the secret sauce, it keeps you grounded while the world spins wild. In a decade, when you look back and smile, it will not be because you shouted the loudest. It will be because you stayed the course, one sat at a time. \ \ Stay Humble and Stack Sats. 🫡

@ eb0157af:77ab6c55

Governor Abbott will have to decide whether to sign the bill establishing a bitcoin reserve for the state.

Texas could become the third U.S. state to set up a strategic bitcoin reserve, following the approval of Senate Bill 21 by the state House, with 101 votes in favor and 42 against.

Lee Bratcher, founder and president of the Texas Blockchain Council, expressed confidence that Governor Greg Abbott will sign the legislative measure. In an interview with The Block, Bratcher said:

“I’ve talked to the governor about this personally, and I think he wants to see Texas lead in this way.”

The bill is expected to reach the governor’s desk within a week or two, according to Bratcher’s projections. If signed, Texas would follow in the footsteps of New Hampshire and Arizona in creating a state-held bitcoin reserve.

Despite Texas ranking as the world’s eighth-largest economy — ahead of many nations — the initial approach to the reserve will be cautious. Bratcher estimates the starting investment will be in the “tens of millions of dollars,” an amount he describes as “modest” for an economy the size of Texas. The responsibility for operational decisions would fall to the state comptroller, who acts as an executive accountant in charge of managing and investing public funds.

“My sense is that it will be in the tens of millions of dollars, which, while it sounds significant, is a very modest amount, for a state the size of Texas.” explained the president of the Texas Blockchain Council.

The road to approval

According to Bratcher, the idea of creating a state bitcoin reserve dates back to 2022 and represents the culmination of years of work by the Texas Blockchain Council. The organization has worked closely with lawmakers who shared the vision of seeing the state accumulate the world’s leading cryptocurrency. Additionally, Texas has long been home to numerous bitcoin mining companies.

The post Texas one step away from a bitcoin reserve: only the governor’s signature is missing appeared first on Atlas21.

@ bf47c19e:c3d2573b

Originalni prevod na ecd.rs

Bitcoin: Peer-to-peer sistem elektronskog novca

Satoshi Nakamoto

satoshin@gmx.com

bitcoin.org

Prevedeno na srpski sa bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf od strane ECD

Sažetak. Potpuna peer-to-peer verzija elektronskog novca omogućila bi slanje uplata putem interneta direktno od jedne strane ka drugoj bez posredovanja finansijskih institucija. Digitalni potpisi pružaju deo rešenja, ali se glavni benefiti gube ako je i dalje potrebna pouzdana treća strana za sprečavanje dvostruke potrošnje. Predlažemo rešenje problema dvostruke potrošnje korišćenjem peer-to-peer mreže. Mreža vremenski označava transakcije tako što ih hešuje u tekući lanac dokaza o radu (proof of work) temeljen na hešu, formirajući zapis koji se ne može promeniti bez ponovnog rada i objavljivanja dokaza o tom radu. Najduži lanac ne služi samo kao dokaz niza događaja, nego i kao dokaz da je taj niz događaja potvrđen od strane dela peer-to-peer mreže koja poseduju najveću zbirnu procesorsku snagu (CPU). Sve dok većinu procesorske snage kontrolišu čvorovi (nodes) koji ne sarađuju u napadu na mrežu, oni će generisati najduži lanac i nadmašiti napadače. Sama mreža zahteva minimalnu strukturu. Poruke kroz mrežu se prenose uz pretpostavku da svaki čvor čini maksimalan napor da poruku prenese u svom izvornom obliku i na optimalan način, a čvorovi mogu napustiti mrežu i ponovo joj se pridružiti po želji, prihvatajući najduži lanac dokaza o radu kao dokaz onoga što se dogodilo dok ih nije bilo.

1. Uvod

Trgovina na Internetu počela je da se oslanja skoro isključivo na finansijske institucije koje služe kao pouzdani posrednici pri obradi elektronskih plaćanja. Iako sistem radi dovoljno dobro za većinu transakcija i dalje trpi od inherentnih slabosti modela utemeljenog na poverenju.

Potpuno nepovratne transakcije zapravo nisu moguće, jer finansijske institucije ne mogu izbeći posredovanje u rešavanju eventualnih sporova. Troškovi posredovanja povećavaju troškove transakcija, ograničavaju minimalnu praktičnu veličinu transakcija i onemogućuju male, povremene transakcije jer postoji velika šteta zbog gubitka mogućnosti da se izvrše nepovratna plaćanja za nepovratne usluge. Uz mogućnost povraćaja transakcije, potreba za poverenjem raste. Trgovci moraju biti oprezni prema svojim kupcima i tražiti im više informacija nego što bi inače bilo neophodno. Određeni procenat prevara prihvaćen je kao neizbežan. Ovi troškovi i nepouzdanost plaćanja mogu se izbeći korišćenjem gotovine, ali ne postoji mehanizam za elektronsko plaćanje bez pouzdane treće strane.

Ono što je potrebno je elektronski sistem plaćanja zasnovan na kriptografskom dokazu umesto na poverenju, koji omogućava da bilo koje dve strane direktno i dobrovoljno međusobno trguju bez potrebe za posrednikom. Transakcije koje su nepovratne bi zaštitile prodavce od prevara, a escrow mehanizmi mogli bi se lako implementirati radi zaštite kupaca. U ovom dokumentu predlažemo rešenje problema dvostruke potrošnje korišćenjem peer-to-peer distribuiranog servera vremenskih oznaka (timestamp) za generisanje računarskog dokaza o hronološkom redosledu transakcija. Sistem je siguran sve dok pošteni čvorovi zajedno kontrolišu više procesorske snage procesora nego bilo koja udružena grupa napadačkih čvorova.

2. Transakcije

Elektronski novčić definišemo kao lanac digitalnih potpisa. Svaki vlasnik prenosi novčić na sledećeg digitalnim potpisivanjem heša prethodne transakcije i javnog ključa sledećeg vlasnika, dodajući ih potom na kraj novčića. Primalac transakcije može da verifikuje potpise, a time i lanac vlasništva.

Problem je naravno u tome što primalac ne može potvrditi da jedan od prethodnih vlasnika nije dva puta poslao isti novčić. Uobičajeno rešenje je uvođenje pouzdanog centralizovanog posrednika, kreatora novčića koji proverava sve transakcije. Nakon svake transakcije, novčić se mora vratiti kreatoru kako bi se izdao novi novčić i veruje se da samo za novčiće izdate direktno od kreatora možemo biti sigurni da nisu dva puta potrošeni. Problem sa ovim rešenjem je što sudbina čitavog novčanog sistema zavisi od kompanije koja kreira novčiće, jer svaka transakcija mora da prođe kroz nju, baš kao što je slučaj sa bankom.

Treba nam način da primalac bude siguran da prethodni vlasnici nisu potpisali nikakve ranije transakcije kojim bi potrošili taj novčić. Za naše potrebe, računamo transakciju koja se prva desila i ne zanimaju nas naredni pokušaji da se isti novčić ponovo pošalje. Jedini način da sa sigurnošću potvrdimo da taj novčić nije prethodno bio poslat je da imamo informacije o svim transakcijama koje su se ikada desile. U modelu baziranom na centalizovan kreatoru, taj kreator je imao informacije o svim transakcijama i odlučivao koja transakcija je prva stigla. Da bismo to postigli bez pouzdanog posrednika, transakcije moraju biti javno objavljene [1] i potreban nam je sistem u kojem učesnici mogu da se dogovore o jedinstvenoj istoriji redosleda kojim su transakcije primljene. Primaocu je potreban dokaz da se u trenutku dešavanja svake od transakcija većina čvorova složila oko toga da je baš ta transakcija bila ona koja je prva primljena.

3. Server vremenskih oznaka

Rešenje koje predlažemo počinje serverom vremenskih oznaka. Server vremenske oznake radi tako što uzima heš bloka podataka kojem će se dodeliti vremenska oznaka i objavi taj heš svima u mreži, slično kao u novinama ili kao post na Usenet mreži [2-5]. Vremenska oznaka očigledno dokazuje da su podaci morali postojati u to vreme kako bi ušli u haš. Svaka vremenska oznaka sadrži prethodnu vremensku oznaku u svom hešu, formirajući tako lanac, pri čemu svaka dodatna vremenska oznaka pojačava potvrde onih pre nje.

4. Dokaz o radu (Proof-of-Work)

Da bismo implementirali distribuirani server vremenskih oznaka na peer-to-peer principu, moraćemo da koristimo sistem dokaza o radu sličan Hashcash-u Adama Back-a [6], umesto Uneset postova ili novinskih objava. Dokaz o radu uključuje traženje vrednosti koja će, kada se hešuje, na primer pomoću SHA-256 heš funkcije, stvarati heš čiji binarni zapis započinje određenim brojem nula. Prosečna količina potrebnog rada eksponencijalno raste sa brojem potrebnih početnih nula, a može se proveriti izvršavanjem samo jedne heš fuknkcije.

Za našu mrežu vremenskih oznaka implementiramo dokaz o radu povećavajući nonce broja u bloku sve dok se ne pronađe ona vrednost nonce-a koja daje hešu bloka potreban broj početnih nula. Jednom kada se procesorska snaga utroši kako bi se zadovoljio dokaz o radu, blok se ne može izmeniti bez ponovljenog rada. Kako se kasniji blokovi vežu na taj blok, rad potreban da se on izmeni uključivao bi i ponovno obrađivanje svih blokova nakon njega.

Dokaz o radu takođe rešava problem utvrđivanja većine pri odlučivanju. Ako bi se ​​većina zasnivala na principu jednog glasa po IP adresi, mogao bi je narušiti svako ko je u stanju da glasa sa više IP adresa odjednom. Dokaz o radu u osnovi predstavlja jedan glas po jedinici procesorske snage. Većinska odluka je predstavljena najdužim lancem u čije je stvaranje zapravo investirano najviše rada prilikom dokazivanja. Ako većinu procesorske snage kontrolišu pošteni čvorovi, pošten lanac će rasti najbrže i nadmašiće sve konkurentske lance. Da bi izmenio neki od prethodnih blokova, napadač bi morao da ponovi dokaz o radu za taj blok i sve blokove nakon njega, a zatim da sustigne i nadmaši količinu rada poštenih čvorova. Kasnije ćemo pokazati da se dodavanjem novih blokova eksponencijalno smanjuje verovatnoća da će sporiji napadač uspeti da sustigne pošteni lanac.

Da bi se kompenzovalo povećanje brzine hardvera i promenljivo interesovanje ljudi za vođenje čvorova tokom vremena, težina obavljanja dokaza o radu (proof-of-work difficulty) određuje se prema prosečnom broju blokova krairanih za sat vremena. Ako se blokovi stvaraju prebrzo, težina se povećava.

5. Mreža

Koraci za vođenje mreže su sledeći:

1) Nove transakcije se prosleđuju svim čvorovima u mreži. 2) Svaki čvor prikuplja nove transakcije u blok. 3) Svaki čvor radi na pronalaženju dokaza o radu dovoljnog nivoa težine za svoj blok. 4) Kada čvor pronađe dokaz o radu, on emituje taj blok ka svim čvorovima. 5) Čvorovi prihvataju blok samo ako su sve transakcije u njemu ispravne i nisu već potrošene. 6) Čvorovi izražavaju prihvatanje bloka radeći na stvaranju sledećeg bloka u lancu, koristeći heš prihvaćenog bloka kao prethodni heš.

Čvorovi uvek smatraju da je najduži lanac ispravan i nastaviće da rade na njegovom produžavanju. Ako dva čvora istovremeno emituju različite verzije sledećeg bloka, neki čvorovi prvo mogu primiti jedan ili drugi blok. U tom slučaju svaki čvor radi na prvom koji je dobio, ali čuvaju drugu kariku lanca u slučaju da ona postane duža. Dilema će biti rešena kada se pronađe sledeći dokaz o radu i jedna karika postane duža; čvorovi koji su radili na drugoj karici lanca će se prebaciti na dužu kariku.

Emitovanje novih transakcija ne mora nužno doći do svih čvorova. Sve dok stižu do velikog broja čvorova, te transakcije će ući u blok. Slično važi i za blokove, ni oni ne moraju doći odmah do svih čvorova. Ako neki čvor propusti da primi informaciju o bloku, kada mu stigne sledeći blok,primetiće da je propustio jedan, pa će ga tražiti naknadno.

6. Podsticaj

Po pravilu, prva transakcija u bloku je posebna transakcija koja kreira novi novčić u vlasništvu kreatora bloka. Ovo daje podsticaj čvorovima da podrže mrežu i pruža način za početnu ubacivanje novčića u opticaj, budući da ne postoji centralno telo koje ih izdaje. Stalno dodavanje konstantne količine novih novčića liči na rudarenje zlata, gde rudari ulažu resurse kako bi izrudarili nove količine zlata i ubacili ih u opticaj. U našem slučaju ulaže se procesorsko vreme i električna energija.

Podsticaj se takođe može finansirati i transakcionim naknadama. Ako je iznos izlaznog dela transakcije manji od ulaznog, razliku čini naknada za transakciju koja se dodaje iznosu nagrade za kreatora bloka koji sadrži tu transakciju. Nakon što predefinisani broj novčića uđe u opticaj, podsticaj mogu u potpunosti činiti transakcione naknade, čime se sistem oslobađa inflacije.

Čvorovi su na ovaj način podstaknuti da ostanu pošteni. Ako je pohlepni napadač u stanju da angažuje više procesorske snage od svih poštenih čvorova zajedno, morao bi da bira između toga da poništi svoje izvršene transakcije i time prevari ljude ili da procesorsku snagu koristi za stvaranje novih novčića. On bi trebalo bi uvidi da je isplativije igrati po pravilima koja ga nagrađuju sa više novih novčića od svi drugi zajedno, nego da potkopava sistem i vrednost sopstvenog bogatstva.

7. Oslobađanje prostora na hard disku

Kada je dovoljno blokova dodato nakon poslednje transakcije novčića, prethodne transakcije tog novčića se mogu odbaciti kako bi se uštedeo prostor na hard disku. Kako bi se to ostvarilo bez razbijanja heša bloka, transakcije su hešovane u Merkleovo stablo (Merkle Tree) [7] [2] [5], gde je samo koren uključen u heš bloka. Stari blokovi se tada mogu sabiti uklanjanjem nepotrebnih grana drveta. Unutrašnji heševi ne moraju biti skladišteni.

Zaglavlje bloka bez transakcija bilo bi oko 80 bajtova. Ako pretpostavimo da su blokovi generisani svakih 10 minuta, 80 bajtova * 6 * 24 * 365 = 4,2 MB godišnje. Imajući u vidu činjenicu da se u 2008. godini računari uglavnom prodaju sa oko 2 GB RAM-a i Murov zakon koji predviđa trenutni rast od 1,2 GB godišnje, skladištenje ne bi trebalo da predstavlja problem čak i ako se zaglavlja bloka moraju čuvati u memoriji.

8. Pojednostavljena verifikacija plaćanja

Moguće je verifikovati plaćanja bez vođenja čitavog mrežnog čvora. Korisnik samo treba da sačuva kopiju zaglavlja blokova najdužeg lanca dokaza o radu, do koje može doći upitom ka mrežnim čvorovima dok se ne uveri da je dobio najduži lanac i dobije Merkleova granu

koja povezuje transakciju sa blokom u koji je uneta vremenska oznaka za tu transakciju. Ne može samostalno proveriti transakciju, ali povezujući je sa mestom u lancu može videti da je prihvaćena od strane čvora mreže i da su na njen blok dodati naknadni blokovi što dalje potvrđuje da ju je mreža prihvatila.

Kao takva, verifikacija je pouzdana sve dok pošteni čvorovi kontrolišu mrežu, ali je ranjiva ako napadač nadjača ostatak mreže. Čvorovi mreže mogu sami proveriti transakcije, ali napadačeve lažne transakcije mogu zavarati one koji koriste pojednostavljenu metodu verifikacije transakcija sve dok je on u stanju da nadjačava ostatak mreže. Jedna od strategija zaštite bila bi prihvatanje upozorenja čvorova mreže kada otkriju nevažeći blok, pri čemu bi korisnikov softver morao da preuzme ceo blok i sporne transakcije kako bi potvrdio nepravilnost. Biznisi koji primaju česte uplate će verovatno želeti da pokrenu i vode sopstvene čvorove radi brže verifikacije i potrebe da im sigurnost ne zavisi od drugih.

9. Kombinovanje i deljenje vrednosti

Iako bi bilo moguće pojedinačno rukovati novčićima, bilo bi nezgrapno kreirati zasebnu transakciju za svaki cent u toj transferu. Da biste dozvolili podelu i kombinovanje vrednosti, transakcije sadrže više ulaza i izlaza. Obično će postojati ili jedan ulaz iz veće prethodne transakcije ili više unosa koji kombinuju manje iznose, a najviše dva izlaza: jedan za samo plaćanje, a jedan koji vraća kusur, ako ga ima, nazad pošiljaocu.

Treba napomenuti da situacija u kojoj transakcija zavisi od nekoliko drugih transakcija, a te transakcije zavise od još mnogo više, ovde nije problem. Nikada ne postoji potreba za izdvajanjem istorije pojedinačne transakcije.

10. Privatnost

Tradicionalni bankarski model postiže odgovarajući nivo privatnosti ograničavanjem pristupa informacijama na strane uključene u transakciju i posrednika. Neophodnost javnog objavljivanja svih transakcija isključuje mogućnost primene pomenutog modela, ali privatnost se i dalje može zadržati na drugi način: čuvanjem javnih ključeva (public keys) anonimnim. Javnost može videti da neko šalje iznos nekom drugom, ali bez informacija koje povezuju transakciju sa bilo kim. Ovo je slično količini informacija koje objavljuju berze, gde se vreme i veličina pojedinačnih trgovina čine javnim, ali bez navođenja ko su stranke uključene u tu trgovinu.

Kao dodatni zaštitni zid, preporučljivo je koristiti novi par ključeva za svaku transakciju, kako ne bi bili povezane sa zajedničkim vlasnikom. Neka povezivanja su i dalje neizbežna kod transakcija sa više ulaza, koje nužno otkrivaju da su njihovi ulazi bili u vlasništvu istog vlasnika. Rizik je taj da bi se otkrivanjem vlasnik ključa mogle otkriti i ostale transakcije koje su pripadale tom vlasniku.

11. Proračuni

Razmatramo scenario u kome napadač pokušava da generiše alternativni lanac brže od poštenog lanca. Čak i ako se to postigne, to ne omogućuje proizvoljne promene u sistemu, poput stvaranje vrednosti ni iz čega ili uzimanje novca koji nikada nije pripadao napadaču. Pošteni čvorovi neće prihvatiti nevažeće transakcije kao uplatu i nikada neće prihvatiti blok koji ih sadrži. Napadač može samo pokušati da promeni jednu od svojih transakcija kako bi vratio novac koji je nedavno potrošio.

Trka između poštenog lanca i lanca napadača može se predstaviti kao binomska distribucija slučajne diskretne varijable (Binomial Random Walk). Uspešni ishod je da se pošten lanac produži za jedan blok, povećavajući svoje vođstvo za +1, a neuspešni ishod je da se napadačev lanac produži za jedan blok, smanjujući zaostatak za -1.

Verovatnoću da napadač nadoknadi određeni deficit možemo izraziti kroz problem kockareve propasti (Gambler’s Ruin Problem). Pretpostavimo da kockar sa neograničenim iznosom novca počinje sa zaostatkom i igra potencijalno beskonačan broj ponovljenih igara u pokušaju da nadoknadi zaostatak. Možemo izračunati verovatnoću za nadoknađivanje zaostatka ili da će napadač stići pošten lanac, na sledeći način [8]:

p= verovatnoća da pošten čvor pronađe sledeći blok q= verovatnoća da napadač pronađe sledeći blok qz= verovatnoća da će napadač ikada dostići z blokova zaostatka

S obzirom na našu pretpostavku da je p > q, verovatnoća pada eksponencijalno kako se povećava broj blokova koje napadač mora da nadoknadi. Sa šansama protiv njega, ako mu se u početku ne posreći, njegove šanse postaju manje i manje sa povećanjem zaostatka.

Sada razmatramo koliko primalac nove transakcije treba da čeka pre nego što postane

dovoljno siguran da pošiljalac ne može promeniti transakciju. Pretpostavljamo da je pošiljalac napadač koji želi da natera primaoca da veruje da mu je platio, a zatim nakon nekog vremena tu transakciju preusmeri ka sebi. Primalac će primetiti kada se to dogodi, ali pošiljalac se nada da će tad već biti prekasno.

Primalac generiše novi par ključeva i daje javni ključ pošiljaocu neposredno pre potpisivanja transakcije. Ovo sprečava pošiljaoca da unapred pripremi lanac blokova radeći na njemu neprekidno dok mu se ne posreći da stekne dovoljnu prednost i u tom trenutku izvrši transakciju. Kada se transakcija pošalje, nepošteni pošiljalac počinje tajno da radi na paralelnom lancu koji sadrži alternativnu verziju njegove transakcije.

Primalac čeka dok transakcija ne bude dodata u blok, i dok z blokova nije dodato nakon tog bloka. On ne zna tačno koliko je napadač napredovao, ali pod pretpostavkom da su pošteni blokovi kreirani očekivanom dinamikom, potencijalni napredak napadača će biti prikazan kao Poasonova distribucija sa očekivanom vrednošću:

Kako bismo izračunali verovatnoću da napadač ipak može da nadoknadi zaostatak, množimo gustinu verovatnoće za svaki nivo napretka koji je mogao da ostvari sa verovatnoćom da od tog trenutka može da potpuno nadoknadi zaostatak:

Preuređujemo formulu kako bismo izbegli sabiranje beskonačnog broja sabiraka zbog repa distribucije:

I konvertujemo u programski kod u programskom jeziku C…

Kroz par primera, vidimo da verovatnoća opada eksponencijalno sa porastom z.

Rešavanje za P < 0.1%…

12. Zaključak

Predložili smo sistem za elektronske transakcije bez oslanjanja na poverenje. Počeli smo sa uobičajenim šablonom i novčićima nastalim iz digitalnih potpisa, koji pruža snažnu kontrolu nad vlasništvom, ali je nepotpun bez načina da se spreči dvostruka potrošnja. Kako bismo ovo rešili, predložili smo peer-to-peer mrežu koja koristi dokaz o radu za čuvanje javne istorije transakcija čija izmena napadačima brzo postaje računski nepraktična ako pošteni čvorovi kontrolišu većinu procesorske snage. Mreža je robusna u svojoj nestrukturiranoj jednostavnosti. Svi čvorovi rade istovremeno uz malo koordinacije. Ne treba ih identifikovati, jer se poruke ne usmeravaju na jedno određeno mesto nego samo trebaju biti prenete uz maksimalan napor od strane čvorova da se taj prenos odradi na predviđen način. Čvorovi mogu da napuste i ponovo se pridruže mreži po želji, prihvatajući lanac dokaza o radu kao dokaz onoga što se dogodilo dok ih nije bilo. Oni glasaju svojom procesorskom snagom, izražavajući svoje prihvatanje validnih blokova time što pokušavaju da ih nadgrade novim blokovima i odbacuju nevažeće blokove odbijanjem ih nadgrađuju. Sva potrebna pravila i podsticaji mogu se nametnuti ovim mehanizmom postizanja konsenzusa.

Reference:

[1] W. Dai, „b-money,“ weidai.com/bmoney.txt, 1998.

[2] H. Massias, X.S. Avila, and J.-J. Quisquater, „Design of a secure timestamping service with minimal trust requirements,“ In 20th Symposium on Information Theory in the Benelux, May 1999.

[3] S. Haber, W.S. Stornetta, „How to time-stamp a digital document,“ In Journal of Cryptology, vol 3, no 2, pages 99-111, 1991.

[4] D. Bayer, S. Haber, W.S. Stornetta, „Improving the efficiency and reliability of digital time-stamping,“ In Sequences II: Methods in Communication, Security and Computer Science, pages 329-334, 1993.

[5] S. Haber, W.S. Stornetta, „Secure names for bit-strings,“ In Proceedings of the 4th ACM Conference on Computer and Communications Security, pages 28-35, April 1997.

[6] A. Back, „Hashcash – a denial of service counter-measure,“ hashcash.org/papers/hashcash.pdf, 2002.

[7] R.C. Merkle, „Protocols for public key cryptosystems,“ In Proc. 1980 Symposium on Security and Privacy, IEEE Computer Society, pages 122-133, April 1980.

[8] W. Feller, „An introduction to probability theory and its applications,“ 1957.

@ eb0157af:77ab6c55

Bitcoin surpasses gold in the United States: 50 million holders and a dominant role in the global market.

According to a new report by River, for the first time in history, the number of Americans owning bitcoin has surpassed that of gold holders. The analysis reveals that approximately 50 million U.S. citizens currently own the cryptocurrency, while gold owners number 37 million. In fact, 14.3% of Americans own bitcoin, the highest percentage of holders worldwide.

Source: River

The report highlights that 40% of all Bitcoin-focused companies are based in the United States, consolidating America’s dominant position in the sector. Additionally, 40.5% of Bitcoin holders are men aged 31 to 35, followed by 35.9% of men aged 41 to 45. In contrast, only 13.4% of holders are women.

Source: River

Notably, U.S. companies hold 94.8% of all bitcoins owned by publicly traded companies worldwide. According to the report, recent regulatory changes in the U.S. have made the asset more accessible through financial products such as spot ETFs.

The document also shows that American investors increasingly view the cryptocurrency as protection against fiscal instability and inflation, appreciating its limited supply and decentralized governance model.

For River, Bitcoin offers significant practical advantages over gold in the modern digital era. Its ease of custody, cross-border transfer, and liquidity make the cryptocurrency an attractive option for both individual and institutional investors, the report suggests.

The post USA: 50 million Americans own bitcoin appeared first on Atlas21.

@ bf47c19e:c3d2573b

Originalni tekst na dvadesetjedan.com

Autor: Vijay Boyapati / Prevod na hrvatski: Matija

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Sa zadnjim cijenama koje je bitcoin dosegao 2017., optimističan scenarij za ulagače se možda čini toliko očitim da ga nije potrebno niti spominjati. Alternativno, možda se nekome čini glupo ulagati u digitalnu vrijednost koja ne počiva na nijednom fizičkom dobru ili vladi i čiji porast cijene su neki usporedili sa manijom tulipana ili dot-com balonom. Nijedno nije točno; optimističan scenarij za Bitcoin je uvjerljiv, ali ne i očit. Postoje značajni rizici kod ulaganja u Bitcoin, no, kao što planiram pokazati, postoji i ogromna prilika.

Geneza

Nikad u povijesti svijeta nije bilo moguće napraviti transfer vrijednosti među fizički udaljenim ljudima bez posrednika, poput banke ili vlade. 2008. godine, anonimni Satoshi Nakamoto je objavio 8 stranica rješenja na dugo nerješivi računalski problem poznat kao “Problem Bizantskog Generala.” Njegovo rješenje i sustav koji je izgradio - Bitcoin - dozvolio je, prvi put ikad, da se vrijednost prenosi brzo i daleko, bez ikakvih posrednika ili povjerenja. Implikacije kreacije Bitcoina su toliko duboke, ekonomski i računalski, da bi Nakamoto trebao biti prva osoba nominirana za Nobelovu nagradu za ekonomiju i Turingovu nagradu.

Za ulagače, važna činjenica izuma Bitcoina (mreže i protokola) je stvaranje novog oskudnog digitalnog dobra - bitcoina (monetarne jedinice). Bitcoini su prenosivi digitalni “novčići” (tokeni), proizvedeni na Bitcoin mreži kroz proces nazvan “rudarenje” (mining). Rudarenje Bitcoina je ugrubo usporedivo sa rudarenjem zlata, uz bitnu razliku da proizvodnja bitcoina prati unaprijed osmišljeni i predvidivi raspored. Samo 21 milijun bitcoina će ikad postojati, i većina (2017., kada je ovaj tekst napisan) su već izrudareni. Svake četiri godine, količina rudarenih bitcoina se prepolovi. Produkcija novih bitcoina će potpuno prestati 2140. godine.

Stopa inflacije —— Monetarna baza

Bitcoine ne podržava nikakva roba ili dobra, niti ih garantira ikakva vlada ili firma, što postavlja očito pitanje za svakog novog bitcoin ulagača: zašto imaju uopće ikakvu vrijednost? Za razliku od dionica, obveznica, nekretnina ili robe poput nafte i žita, bitcoine nije moguće vrednovati koristeći standardne ekonomske analize ili korisnost u proizvodnji drugih dobara. Bitcoini pripadaju sasvim drugoj kategoriji dobara - monetarnih dobara, čija se vrijednost definira kroz tzv. teoriju igara; svaki sudionik na tržištu vrednuje neko dobro, onoliko koliko procjenjuje da će ga drugi sudionici vrednovati. Kako bismo bolje razumjeli ovo svojstvo monetarnih dobara, trebamo istražiti podrijetlo novca.

Podrijetlo novca

U prvim ljudskim društvima, trgovina među grupama se vršila kroz robnu razmjenu. Velika neefikasnost prisutna u robnoj razmjeni je drastično ograničavala količinu i geografski prostor na kojem je bila moguća. Jedan od najvećih problema sa robnom razmjenom je problem dvostruke podudarnosti potražnje. Uzgajivač jabuka možda želi trgovati sa ribarom, ali ako ribar ne želi jabuke u istom trenutku, razmjena se neće dogoditi. Kroz vrijeme, ljudi su razvili želju za čuvanjem određenih predmeta zbog njihove rijetkosti i simbolične vrijednosti (npr. školjke, životinjski zube, kremen). Zaista, kako i Nick Szabo govori u svojem izvrsnom eseju o podrijetlu novca, ljudska želja za sakupljanjem predmeta pružila je izraženu evolucijsku prednost ranom čovjeku nad njegovim najbližim biološkim rivalom, neandertalcem - Homo neanderthalensis.

"Primarna i najbitnija evolucijska funkcija sakupljanja bila je osigurati medij za čuvanje i prenošenje vrijednosti".

Predmeti koje su ljudi sakupljali služili su kao svojevrsni “proto-novac,” tako što su omogućavale trgovinu među antagonističkim plemenima i dozvoljavale bogatsvu da se prenosi na sljedeću generaciju. Trgovina i transfer takvih predmeta bile su rijetke u paleolitskim društvima, te su oni služili više kao “spremište vrijednosti” (store of value) nego kao “medij razmjene” (medium of exchange), što je uloga koju danas igra moderni novac. Szabo objašnjava:

"U usporedbi sa modernim novcem, primitivan novac je imao jako malo “brzinu” - mogao je promijeniti ruke samo nekoliko puta u životu prosječnog čovjeka. Svejedno, trajni i čvrsti sakupljački predmet, što bismo danas nazvali “nasljeđe,” mogao je opstati mnogo generacija, dodajući znatnu vrijednost pri svakom transferu - i zapravo omogućiti transfer uopće".

Rani čovjek suočio se sa bitnom dilemom u teoriji igara, kada je odlučivao koje predmete sakupljati: koje od njih će drugi ljudi željeti? Onaj koji bi to točno predvidio imao bi ogromnu prednost u mogućnosti trgovine i akvizicije bogatsva. Neka američka indijanska plemena, npr. Naraganseti, specijalizirala su se u proizvodnji sakupljačkih dobara koja nisu imala drugu svrhu osim trgovine. Valja spomenuti da što je ranije predviđanje da će neko dobro imati takvu vrijednost, veća je prednost koju će imati onaj koji je posjeduje, zato što ju je moguće nabaviti jeftinije, prije nego postane vrlo tražena roba i njezona vrijednost naraste zajedno sa populacijom. Nadalje, nabava nekog dobra u nadi da će u budućnosti biti korišteno kao spremište vrijednosti, ubrzava upravo tu primjenu. Ova cirkularnost je zapravo povratna veza (feedback loop) koja potiče društva da se rapidno slože oko jednog spremišta vrijednosti. U terminima teorije igara, ovo je znano kao “Nashov ekvilibrij.” Postizanje Nashovog ekvilibrija za neko spremište vrijednosti je veliko postignuće za društvo, pošto ono znatno olakšava trgovinu i podjelu rada, i time omogućava napredak civilizacije.

Tisućljećima, kako su ljudska društva rasla i otvarala trgovinske puteve, različite aplikacije spremišta vrijednosti u individualnim društvima počele su se natjecati međusobno. Trgovci su imali izbor: čuvati svoju zaradu u spremištu vrijednosti vlastite kulture, ili one kulture sa kojom su trgovali, ili mješavini oboje. Benefit štednje u stranom spremištu vrijednosti bila je uvećana sposobnost trgovanja u povezanom stranom društvu. Trgovci koji su štedili u stranom spremištu vrijednosti su također imali dobrih razloga da potiču svoje društvo da ga prihvati, jer bi tako uvećali vrijednost vlastite ušteđevine. Prednosti “uvezene” tehnologije spremanja vrijednosti bile su prisutne ne samo za trgovce, nego i za sama društva. Kada bi se dvije grupe konvergirale u jedinstvenom spremištu vrijednosti, to bi značajno smanjilo cijenu troškova trgovine jednog s drugim, i samim time povećanje bogatstva kroz trgovinu. I zaista, 19. stoljeće bilo je prvi put da je najveći dio svijeta prihvatio jedinstveno spremište vrijednosti - zlato - i u tom periodu vidio najveću eksploziju trgovine u povijesti svijeta. O ovom mirnom periodu, pisao je John Maynard Keynes:

"Kakva nevjerojatna epizoda u ekonomskom napretku čovjeka… za svakog čovjeka iole iznadprosječnog, iz srednje ili više klase, život je nudio obilje, ugodu i mogućnosti, po niskoj cijeni i bez puno problema, više nego monarsima iz prethodnih perioda. Stanovnik Londona mogao je, ispijajući jutarnji čaj iz kreveta, telefonski naručiti razne proizvode iz cijele Zemlje, u količinama koje je želio, i sa dobrim razlogom očekivati njihovu dostavu na svoj kućni prag."

Svojstva dobrog spremišta vrijednosti

Kada se spremišta vrijednosti natječu jedno s drugim, specifična svojstva rade razliku koja daje jednom prednost nad drugim. Premda su mnoga dobra u prošlosti korištena kao spremišta vrijednosti ili kao “proto-novac,” određena svojstva su se pokazala kao posebno važna, i omogućila dobrima sa njima da pobijede. Idealno spremište vrijednosti biti će:

• Trajno: dobro ne smije biti kvarljivo ili lako uništeno. Tako naprimjer, žito nije idealno spremište vrijednosti.
• Prenosivo: dobro mora biti lako transportirati i čuvati, što omogućuje osiguranje protiv gubitka ili krađe i dopušta trgovinu na velike udaljenosti. Tako, krava je lošije spremište vrijednosti od zlatne narukvice.
• Zamjenjivo: jedna jedinica dobra treba biti zamjenjiva sa drugom. Bez zamjenjivosti, problem podudarnosti želja ostaje nerješiv. Time, zlato je bolje od dijamanata, jer su oni nepravilni u obliku i kvaliteti.
• Provjerljivo: dobro mora biti lako i brzo identificirano i testirano za autentičnost. Laka provjera povećava povjerenje u trgovini i vjerojatnost da će razmjena biti dovršena.
• Djeljivo: dobro mora biti lako djeljivo na manje dijelove. Premda je ovo svojstvo bilo manje važno u ranim društvima gdje je trgovina bila rijetka, postalo je važnije sa procvatom trgovine. Količine koje su se mijenjale postale su manje i preciznije.
• Oskudno: Monetarno dobro mora imati “cijenu nemoguću za lažirati,” kao što je rekao Nick Szabo. Drugim riječima, dobro ne smije biti obilno ili lako dostupno kroz proizvodnju. Oskudnost je možda i najvažnije svojstvo spremišta vrijednosti, pošto se izravno vezuje na ljudsku želju da sakupljamo ono što je rijetko. Ona je izvor vrijednosti u spremištu vrijednosti.
• Duge povijesti: što je dulje neko dobro vrijedno za društvo, veća je vjerojatnost da će biti prihvaćeno kao spremište vrijednosti. Dugo postojeće spremište vrijednosti biti će jako teško uklonjeno od strane došljaka, osim u slučaju sile (ratno osvajanje) ili ako je nova tehnologija znatno bolja u ostalim svojstvima.
• Otporno na cenzuru: novije svojstvo, sve više važno u modernom digitalnom svijetu sa sveprisutnim nadzorom, je otpornost na cenzuru. Drugim riječima, koliko je teško da vanjski agent, kao korporacija ili država, spriječi vlasnika dobra da ga čuva i koristi. Dobra koja su otporna na cenzuru su idealna za ljude koji žive u režimima koji prisilno nadziru kapital ili čine neke oblike mirne trgovine protuzakonitima.

Ova tablica ocjenjuje Bitcoin, zlato (gold) i fiat novac (kao što je euro ili dolar) po svojstvima izlistanim gore. Objašnjenje svake ocjene slijedi nakon tablice.

Trajnost:

Zlato je neosporeni kralj trajnosti. Velika većina zlata pronađenog kroz povijest, uključujući ono egipatskih faraona, opstaje i danas i vjerojatno će postojati i za tisuću godina. Zlatnici korišteni u antičko doba imaju značajnu vrijednost i danas. Fiat valute i bitcoini su digitalni zapisi koji ponekad imaju fizički oblik (npr. novčanice). Dakle, njihovu trajnost ne određuju njihova fizička svojstva (moguće je zamijeniti staru i oštećenu novčanicu za novu), nego institucije koje stoje iza njih. U slučaju fiat valuta, mnoge države su nastale i nestale kroz stoljeća, i valute su nestale s njima. Marke iz Weimarske republike danas nemaju vrijednost zato što institucija koja ih je izdavala više ne postoji. Ako je povijest ikakav pokazatelj, ne bi bilo mudro smatrati fiat valute trajnima dugoročno; američki dolar i britanska funta su relativne anomalije u ovom pogledu. Bitcoini, zato što nemaju instituciju koja ih održava, mogu se smatrati trajnima dok god mreža koja ih osigurava postoji. Obzirom da je Bitcoin još uvijek mlada valuta, prerano je za čvrste zaključke o njegovoj trajnosti. No, postoje ohrabrujući znakovi - prominente države su ga pokušavale regulirati, hakeri ga napadali - usprkos tome, mreža nastavlja funkcionirati, pokazujući visok stupanj antifragilnosti.

Prenosivost:

Bitcoini su najprenosivije spremište vrijednosti ikad. Privatni ključevi koji predstavljaju stotine milijuna dolara mogu se spremiti na USB drive i lako ponijeti bilo gdje. Nadalje, jednako velike sume mogu se poslati na drugi kraj svijeta skoro instantno. Fiat valute, zbog svojeg temeljno digitalnog oblika, su također lako prenosive. Ali, regulacije i kontrola kapitala od strane države mogu ugroziti velike prijenose vrijednosti, ili ih usporiti danima. Gotovina se može koristiti kako bi se izbjegle kontrole kapitala, ali onda rastu rizik čuvanja i cijena transporta. Zlato, zbog svojeg fizičkog oblika i velike gustoće, je najmanje prenosivo. Nije čudo da većina zlatnika i poluga nikad ne napuste sefove. Kada se radi prijenos zlata između prodavača i kupca, uglavnom se prenosi samo ugovor o vlasništvu, ne samo fizičko zlato. Prijenos fizičkog zlata na velike udaljenosti je skupo, riskantno i sporo.

Zamjenjivost:

Zlato nam daje standard za zamjenjivost. Kada je rastopljeno, gram zlata je praktički nemoguće razlikovati od bilo kojeg drugog grama, i zlato je oduvijek bilo takvo. S druge strane, fiat valute, su zamjenjive samo onoliko koliko njihova institucija želi da budu. Iako je uglavnom slučaj da je novčanica zamjenjiva za drugu istog iznosa, postoje situacije u kojima su velike novčanice tretirane drukčije od malih. Naprimjer, vlada Indije je, u pokušaju da uništi neoporezivo sivo tržište, potpuno oduzela vrijednost novčanicama od 500 i 1000 rupija. To je uzrokovalo da ljudi manje vrednuju te novčanice u trgovini, što je značilo da više nisu bile zaista zamjenjive za manje novčanice. Bitcoini su zamjenjivi na razini mreže; svaki bitcoin je pri prijenosu tretiran kao svaki drugi. No, zato što je moguće pratiti individualne bitcoine na blockchainu, određeni bitcoin može, u teoriji, postati “prljav” zbog korštenja u ilegalnoj trgovini, te ga trgovci ili mjenjačnice možda neće htjeti prihvatiti. Bez dodatnih poboljšanja oko privatnosti i anonimnosti na razini mrežnog protokola, bitcoine ne možemo smatrati jednako zamjenjivim kao zlato.

Mogućnost provjere:

Praktično gledajući, autentičnost fiat valuta i zlata je prilično lako provjeriti. Svejedno, i usprkos pokušajima da spriječe krivotvorenje novčanica, i dalje postoji potencijal prevare za vlade i njihove građane. Zlato također nije imuno na krivotvorenje. Sofisticirani kriminalci su koristili pozlaćeni tungsten kako bi prevarili kupce zlata. Bitcoine je moguće provjeriti sa matematičkom sigurnošću. Korištenjem kriptografskih potpisa, vlasnik bitcoina može javno demonstrirati da posjeduje bitcoine koje tvrdi da posjeduje.

Djeljivost:

Bitcoine je moguće podijeliti u stotinu milijuna manjih jedinica (zvanih satoshi), i prenositi takve (no, valja uzeti u obzir ekonomičnost prijenosa malih iznosa, zbog cijene osiguravanja mreže - “network fee”). Fiat valute su tipično dovoljno djeljive na jedinice sa vrlo niskom kupovnom moći. Zlato, iako fizički i teoretski djeljivo, postaje teško za korištenje kada se podijeli na dovoljno male količine da bi se moglo koristiti u svakodnevnoj trgovini.

Oskudnost:

Svojstvo koje najjasnije razlikuje Bitcoin od fiat valuta i zlata je njegova unaprijed definirana oskudnost. Od početka, konačna količina bitcoina nikad neće biti veća od 21 milijun. To daje vlasnicima bitcoina jasan i znan uvid u postotak ukupnog vlasništva. Naprimjer, vlasnik 10 bitcoina bi znao da najviše 2,1 milijuna ljudi (manje od 0.03% populacije) može ikad imati isto bitcoina kao i on. Premda je kroz povijest uvijek bilo oskudno, zlato nije imuno na povećanje ukupne količine. Ako se ikad izumi nova, ekonomičnija metoda rudarenja ili proizvodnje zlata, ukupna količina zlata bi se mogla dramatično povećati (npr. rudarenje morskog dna ili asteroida). Na kraju, fiat valute, relativno nov izum u povijesti, pokazale su se sklonima konstantnim povećanjima u količini. Države su pokazale stalnu sklonost inflaciji monetarne kvantitete kako bi rješavale kratkoročne političke probleme. Inflacijske tendencije vlada diljem svijeta čine fiat valute gotovo sigurnim da će gubiti vrijednost kroz vrijeme.

Etablirana povijest:

Nijedno monetarno dobro nema povijest kao zlato, koje je imalo vrijednost za cijelog trajanja ljudske civilizacije. Kovanice izrađene u antičko doba i danas imaju značajnu vrijednost. Ne može se isto reći za fiat valute, koje su same relativno nova povijesna anomalija. Od njihovog početka, fiat valute su imale gotovo univerzalni smjer prema bezvrijednosti. Korištenje inflacije kao podmuklog načina za nevidljivo oporezivanje građana je vječita kušnja kojoj se skoro nijedna država u povijesti nije mogla oduprijeti. Ako je 20. stoljeće, u kojem je fiat novac dominirao globalni monetarni poredak, demonstriralo neku ekonomsku istinu, to je onda bila ta da ne možemo računati na fiat novac da održi vrijednost u dužem ili srednjem vremenskom periodu. Bitcoin, usprkos svojoj novosti, je preživio dovoljno testova tržišta da postoji velika vjerojatnost da neće nestati kao vrijedno dobro. Nadalje, Lindy efekt govori da što duže Bitcoin bude korišten, to će veća biti vjera u njega i njegovu sposobnost da nastavi postojati dugo u budućnost. Drugim riječima, društvena vjera u monetarno dobro je asimptotička, kao u grafu ispod:

Ako Bitcoin preživi prvih 20 godina, imat će gotovo sveopće povjerenje da će trajati zauvijek, kao što ljudi vjeruju da je internet trajna stvar u modernom svijetu.

Otpor na cenzuru

Jedan od najbitnijih izvora za ranu potražnju bitcoina bila je njegova upotreba u ilegalnoj kupovini i prodaji droge. Mnogi su zato pogrešno zaključili da je primarna potražnja za bitcoinima utemeljena u njihovoj prividnoj anonimnosti. Međutim, Bitcoin nije anonimna valuta; svaka transakcija na mreži je zauvijek zapisana na javnom blockchainu. Povijesni zapis transakcija dozvoljava forenzičkoj analizi da identificira izvore i tijek sredstava. Takva analiza dovela je do uhićenja počinitelja zloglasne MtGox pljačke. Premda je istina da dovoljno oprezna i pedantna osoba može sakriti svoj identitet koristeći Bitcoin, to nije razlog zašto je Bitcoin bio toliko popularan u trgovini drogom.

Ključno svojstvo koje čini Bitcoin najboljim za takve aktivnosti je njegova agnostičnost i nepotrebnost za dozvolom (“premissionlessness”) na mrežnoj razini. Kada se bitcoini prenose na Bitcoin mreži, ne postoji nitko tko dopušta transakcije. Bitcoin je distribuirana peer-to-peer (korisnik-korisniku) mreža, i samim time dizajnirana da bude otporna na cenzuru. Ovo je u velikom kontrastu sa fiat bankarskim sustavom, u kojem države reguliraju banke i ostale institucije prijenosa novca, kako bi one prijavljivale i sprječavale protuzakonito korištenje monetarnih dobara. Klasičan primjer regulacije novca su kontrole kapitala. Npr., bogati milijunaš će vrlo teško prenijeti svoje bogatstvo u novu zemlju, kada bježi iz opresivnog režima. Premda zlato nije izdano i proizvedeno od države, njegova fizička priroda ga čini teško prenosivim kroz prostor, i samim time ga je daleko lakše regulirati nego Bitcoin. Indijski Akt kontrole zlata je primjer takve regulacije.

Bitcoin je odličan u većini gore navedenih svojstava, što mu omogućava da bude marginalno bolji od modernih i drevnih monetarnih dobara, te da pruži poticaje za svoje rastuće društveno usvajanje. Specifično, moćna kombinacija otpornosti na cenzuru i apsolutne oskudnosti bila je velika motivacija za bogate ulagače koji su uložili dio svojeg bogatstva u Bitcoin.

Evolucija novca

U modernoj monetarnoj ekonomiji postoji opsesija sa ulogom novca kao medija razmjene. U 20. stoljeću, države su monopolizirale izdavanje i kontrolu novca i kontinuirano potkopavale njegovo svojstvo spremišta vrijednosti, stvarajući lažno uvjerenje da je primarna svrha novca biti medij razmjene. Mnogi su kritizirali Bitcoin, govoreći da je neprikladan da bude novac zato što mu je cijena bila previše volatilna za medij razmjene. No, novac je uvijek evoluirao kroz etape; uloga spremišta vrijednosti je dolazila prije medija razmjene. Jedan od očeva marginalističke ekonomije, William Stanley Jevons, objašnjava:

"Povijesno govoreći… čini se da je zlato prvo služilo kao luksuzni metal za ukras; drugo, kao sačuvana vrijednost; treće, kao medij razmjene; i konačno, kao mjerilo vrijednosti."

U modernoj terminologiji, novac uvijek evoluira kroz četiri stadija:

1. Kolekcionarstvo: U prvoj fazi svoje evolucije, novac je tražen samo zbog svojih posebnih svojstava, uglavnom zbog želja onog koji ga posjeduje. Školjke, perlice i zlato su bili sakupljani prije nego su poprimili poznatije uloge novca.
2. Spremište vrijednosti: Jednom kada je novac tražen od dovoljnog broja ljudi, biti će prepoznat kao način za čuvanje i spremanje vrijednosti kroz vrijeme. Kada neko dobro postane široko korišteno kao spremište vrijednosti, njegova kupovna moć raste sa povećanom potražnjom za tu svrhu. Kupovna moć spremišta vrijednosti će u jednom trenutku doći do vrhunca, kada je dovolno rašireno i broj novih ljudi koji ga potražuju splasne.
3. Sredstvo razmjene: Kada je novac potpuno etabliran kao spremište vrijednosti, njegova kupovna moć se stabilizira. Nakon toga, postane prikladno sredstvo razmjene zbog stabilnosti svoje cijene. U najranijim danima Bitcoina, mnogi ljudi nisu shvaćali koju buduću cijenu plaćaju koristeći bitcoine kao sredstvo razmjene, umjesto kao novonastalo spremište vrijednosti. Poznata priča o čovjeku koji je za 10,000 bitcoina (vrijednih oko 94 milijuna dolara kada je ovaj članak napisan) za dvije pizze ilustrira ovaj problem.
4. Jedinica računanja vrijednosti: Jednom kada je novac široko korišten kao sredstvo razmjene, dobra će biti vrednovana u njemu, tj. većina cijena će biti izražena u njemu. Uobičajena zabluda je da je većinu dobara moguće zamijeniti za bitcoine danas. Npr., premda je možda moguće kupiti šalicu kave za bitcoine, izlistana cijena nije prava bitcoin cijena; zapravo se radi o cijeni u državnoj valuti koju želi trgovac, preračunatu u bitcoin po trenutnoj tržišnoj cijeni. Kad bi cijena bitcoina pala u odnosu na valutu, vrijednost šalice izražena u bitcoinima bi se povećala. Od trenutka kada trgovci budu voljni prihvaćani bitcoine kao platežno sredstvo, bez obraćanja pažnje na vrijednost bitcoina u državnoj fiat valuti, moći ćemo reći da je Bitcoin zaista postao jedinica računanja vrijednosti.

Monetarna dobra koja još nisu jedinice računanja vrijednosti možemo smatrati “djelomično monetiziranima.” Danas zlato ima takvu ulogu, jer je spremište vrijednosti, ali su mu uloge sredstva razmjene i računanja vrijednosti oduzete intervencijama država. Moguće je također da se jedno dobro koristi kao sredstvo razmjene, dok druga ispunjavaju ostale uloge. To je tipično u zemljama gdje je država disfunkcionalna, npr. Argentina ili Zimbabwe. U svojoj knjizi, Digitalno zlato, Nathaniel Popper piše:

"U Americi, dolar služi trima funkcijama novca: nudi sredstvo razmjene, jedinicu za mjerenje vrijednosti dobara, i mjesto gdje se može čuvati vrijednosti. S druge strane, argentinski peso je korišten kao sredstvo razmjene (za svakodnevne potrebe), ali ga nitko nije koristio kao spremište vrijednosti. Štednja u pesosima bila je ekvivalent bacanja novca. Zato su ljudi svu svoju štednju imali u dolarima, jer je dolar bolje čuvao vrijednost. Zbog volatilnosti pesosa, ljudi su računali cijene u dolarima, što im je pružalo pouzdaniju jedinicu mjerenja kroz vrijeme."

Bitcoin je trenutno u fazi tranzicije iz prvog stadija monetizacije u drugi. Vjerojatno će proći nekoliko godina prije nego Bitcoin pređe iz začetaka spremišta vrijednosti u istinski medij razmjene, i put do tog trenutka je još uvijek pun rizika i nesigurnosti. Važno je napomenuti da je ista tranzicija trajala mnogo stoljeća za zlato. Nitko danas živ nije doživio monetizaciju dobra u realnom vremenu (kroz koju Bitcoin prolazi), tako da nemamo puno iskustva govoriti o putu i načinu na koji će se monetizacija dogoditi.

Put monetizacije

Kroz proces monetizacije, monetarno dobro će naglo porasti u kupovnoj moći. Mnogi su tako komentirali da je uvećanje kupovne moći Bitcoina izgledalo kao “balon” (bubble). Premda je ovaj termin često korišten kako bi ukazao na pretjeranu vrijednosti Bitcoina, sasvim slučajno je prikladan. Svojstvo koje je uobičajeno za sva monetarna dobra jest da je njihova kupovna moć viša nego što se može opravdati samo kroz njihovu uporabnu vrijednost. Zaista, mnogi povijesni novci nisu imali uporabnu vrijednost. Razliku između kupovne moći i vrijednosti razmjene koju bi novac mogao imati za svoju inherentnu korisnost, možemo razmatrati kao “monetarnu premiju.” Kako monetarno dobro prolazi kroz stadije monetizacije (navedene gore), monetarna premija raste. No, ta premija ne raste u ravnoj i predvidivoj liniji. Dobro X, koje je bilo u procesu monetizacije, može izgubiti u usporedbi sa dobrom Y koje ima više svojstava novca, te monetarna premija dobra X drastično padne ili potpuno nestane. Monetarna premija srebra je skoro potpuno nestala u kasnom 19. stoljeću, kada su ga vlade diljem svijeta zamijenile zlatom kao novcem.

Čak i u odsustvu vanjskih faktora, kao što su intervencije vlade ili druga monetarna dobra, monetarna premija novog novca neće ići predvidivim putem. Ekonomist Larry White primijetio je:

"problem sa pričom “balona,” naravno, je da je ona konzistentna sa svakim putem cijene, i time ne daje ikakvo objašnjenje za specifičan put cijene"

Proces monetizacije opisuje teorija igara; svaki akter na tržištu pokušava predvidjeti agregiranu potražnju ostalih aktera, i time buduću monetarnu premiju. Zato što je monetarna premija nevezana za inherentnu korisnost, tržišni akteri se uglavnom vode za prošlim cijenama da bi odredili je li neko dobro jeftino ili skupo, i žele li ga kupiti ili prodati. Veza trenutne potražnje sa prošlim cijenama naziva se “ovisnost o putu” (path dependence); ona je možda najveći izvor konfuzije u shvaćanju kretanja cijena monetarnih dobara.

Kada kupovna moć monetarnog dobra naraste zbog većeg i šireg korištenja, očekivanja tržišta o definicijama “jeftinog” i “skupog” se mijenjaju u skladu s time. Slično tome, kada cijena monetarnog dobra padne, očekivanja tržišta mogu se promijeniti u opće vjerovanje da su prethodne cijene bile “iracionalne” ili prenapuhane. Ovisnost o putu novca ilustrirana je riječima poznatog upravitelja fondova s Wall Streeta, Josha Browna:

"Kupio sam bitcoine kada su koštali 2300 USD, i to mi se udvostručilo gotovo odmah. Onda sam počeo govoriti kako “ne mogu kupiti još” dok im je cijena rasla, premda sam znao da je to razmišljanje bazirano samo na cijenu po kojoj sam ih kupio. Kasnije, kada je cijena pala zbog kineske regulacije mjenjačnica, počeo sam si govoriti, “Odlično, nadam se da će još pasti da mogu kupiti još.”"

Istina leži u tome da su ideje “jeftinog” i “skupog” zapravo besmislene kada govorimo o monetarnim dobrima. Cijena monetarnog dobra ne reflektira njegovu stopu rasprostanjenosti ili korisnosti, nego mjeru koliko je ono široko prihvaćeno da ispuni razne uloge novca.

Dodatna komplikacija u ovom aspektu novca je činjenica da tržišni akteri ne djeluju samo kao nepristrani promatrači koji pokušavaju kupiti i prodati u iščekivanju budućih kretanja monetarne premije, nego i kao aktivni proponenti. Pošto ne postoji objektivno “točna” monetarna premija, širiti dobar glas o superiornijim svojstvima nekog monetarnog dobra je efektivnije nego za obična dobra, čija vrijednost je u konačnici vezana na njegovu osnovnu korisnost. Religiozni zanos sudionika na Bitcoin tržištu vidljiv je na raznim internetskim forumima, gdje Bitcoineri aktivno promoviraju benefine Bitcoina i bogatstvo koje je moguće ostvariti investiranjem u njega. Promatrajući Bitcoin tržište, Leigh Drogen komentira:

"To je prepoznatljivo svima kao religija - priča koju si pričamo i oko koje se slažemo. Religija je krivulja na grafu prihvaćanja o kojoj trebamo razmišljati. Sustav je gotovo savršen - onog trenutka kada netko pristupi krugu Bitcoinera, to će reći svima i nastaviti širiti riječ. Onda njihovi prijatelji pristupe i nastave širiti riječ."

Premda usporedba sa religijom može staviti Bitcoin u iracionalno svjetlo, potpuno je racionalno za individualnog vlasnika da širi dobru vijest o superiornom monetarnom dobru, i za šire društvo da se standardizira oko njega. Novac djeluje kao temelj za svu trgovinu i štednju; tako da prihvaćanje superiornog oblika novca ima ogromne multiplicirajuće benefite za stvaranje bogatstva za sve članove društva.

Oblik monetizacije

U članku o Spekulativnom prihvaćanju Bitcoina / teorije cijene, Michael Casey postulira da rastući Gartner hype ciklusi predstavljaju faze standardne S-krivulje prihvaćanja novih tehnologija, koje su bile prisutne kod mnogih transformacijskih tehnologija dok su postajale uobičajene u društvu.

Svaki Gartner hype ciklus počinje sa eksplozijom entuzijazma za novom tehnologijom, a cijenu podižu oni sudionici na tržištvu koji su “dostupni” u toj fazi. Najraniji kupci u Gartner hype ciklusu obično imaju jaku vjeru o transformacijskoj prirodi tehnologije u koju ulažu. S vremenom, tržište dosegne vrhunac entuzijazma kako se količina novih kupaca iscrpljuje, te kupovinom počnu dominirati spekulatori koji su više zainteresirani u brze profite nego u samu tehnologiju.

Nakon vrha hype ciklusa, cijene rapidno padaju dok spekulativno ludilo ustupa mjesto očajavanju, javnoj poruzi i osjećaju da tehnologija nije uopće bila transformacijska. S vremenom, cijena dosegne dno i formira plato na kojem se originalnim ulagačima, koji su imali snažno uvjerenje, pridružuju nove grupe ljudi koji su izdržali bol kraha cijena i koji cijene važnost same tehnologije.

Plato traje neko vrijeme i formira, kako Casey kaže, “stabilnu, dosadnu dolinu.” Za ovo vrijeme, javni interes za tehnologiju opada, no nastaviti će se razvijati i snažna zajednica uvjerenja će polako rasti. Tada, postavlja se nova baza za sljedeću iteraciju hype ciklusa, dok vanjski promatrači prepoznaju da tehnologija i dalje postoji i da ulaganje u nju možda nije onoliko rizično kao što se činilo za vrijeme pada cijene. Sljedeća iteracija hype ciklusa donosi mnogo veći broj novih ljudi, pa je i ciklus daleko veći u svojoj magnitudi.

Jako mali broj ljudi koji sudjeluju u Gartner hype ciklusu će točno predvidjeti koliko će visoko cijena porasti za vrijeme ciklusa. Cijene često dosegnu razine koje bi se činile apsurdnima većini ulagača u raniji stadijima ciklusa. Kada ciklus završi, mediji tipično atribuiraju pad cijene nekoj od aktualnih drušvenih tema. Premda takva tema može biti okidač pada, ona nikad nije temeljni razlog zašto ciklus završava. Gartner hype ciklusi završavaju kada je količina dostupnih novih sudionika na tržištu iscrpljena.

Zanimljivo je da je i zlato nacrtalo klasičan graf Gartner hype ciklusa od kasnih 1970-ih do ranih 2000-ih. Moguće je spekulirati da je hype ciklus osnovna socijalna dinamika oko procesa monetizacije.

Gartner kohorte

Od početka trgovanja Bitcoina na mjenjačnicama 2010. godine, Bitcoin tržište je svjedočilo četirima velikim Gartner hype ciklusima. U retrospektivi, možemo vrlo precizno identificirati grupe cijena prethodnih hype ciklusa Bitcoin tržišta. Također, možemo kvalitativno odrediti kohorte ulagača koje su povezane sa svakom iteracijom prethodnih ciklusa.

0 USD –1 USD (2009. – 3. mjesec 2011.): Prvi hype ciklus u Bitcoin tržištu dominirali su kriptografi, računalni znanstvenici i cypherpunkovi koji su od početka bili spremni razumijeti važnost nevjerojatnog izuma Satoshija Nakamotoa, i koji su bili pioniri u potvrđivanju da Bitcoin protokol nema tehničkih mana.

1 USD - 30 USD (3. mjesec 2011. – 7. mjesec. 2011.): Drugi ciklus privukao je rane entuzijaste oko novih tehnologija kao i stabilan pritok ideološki motiviranih ulagača koji su bili oduševljeni idejom novca odvojenog od države. Libertarijanci poput Rogera Vera došli su u Bitcoin zbog aktivnog anti-institucionalnog stava, i mogućnosti koju je nova tehnologija obećavala. Wences Casares, briljantni i dobro povezani serijski poduzetnik, bio je također dio drugog Bitcoin hype ciklusa te je širio riječ o Bitcoinu među najprominentnijim tehnolozima i ulagačima u Silicijskoj Dolini.

250 USD – 1100 USD (4. mjesec 2013. – 12. mjesec 2013.): Treći hype ciklus doživio je ulazak ranih generalnih i institucionalnih ulagača koji su bili voljni uložiti trud i riskirati kroz užasno komplicirane kanale likvidnosti kako bi kupili bitcoine. Primaran izvor likvidnosti na tržištu za vrijeme ovog perioda bio je MtGox, mjenjačnica bazirana u Japanu, koju je vodio notorno nesposobni i beskrupulozni Mark Karpeles, koji je kasnije završio i u zatvoru zbog svoje uloge u kolapsu MtGoxa.

Valja primijetiti da je rast Bitcoinove cijene za vrijeme spomenuti hype ciklusa većinom povezano sa povećanjem likvidnosti i lakoćom sa kojom su ulagači mogli kupiti bitcoine. Za vrijeme prvog hype ciklusa, nisu postojale mjenjačnice; akvizicija bitcoina se odvijala primarno kroz rudarenje (mining) ili kroz izravnu razmjenu sa onima koju su već izrudarili bitcoine. Za vrijeme drugog hype ciklusa, pojavile su se rudimentarne mjenjačnice, no nabavljanje i osiguravanje bitcoina na ovim mjenjačnicama bilo je previše kompleksno za sve osim tehnološki najsposobnijih ulagača. Čak i za vrijeme trećeg hype ciklusa, ulagači koju su slali novac na MtGox kako bi kupili bitcoine su morali raditi kroz značajne prepreke. Banke nisu bile voljne imati posla sa mjenjačnicom, a oni posrednici koji su nudili usluge transfera bili su često nesposobni, kriminalni, ili oboje. Nadalje, mnogi koji su uspjeli poslati novac MtGoxu, u konačnici su morali prihvatiti gubitak svojih sredstava kada je mjenjačnica hakirana i kasnije zatvorena.

Tek nakon kolapsa MtGox mjenjačnice i dvogodišnje pauze u tržišnoj cijeni Bitcoina, razvili su se zreli i duboki izvori likvidnosti; primjeri poput reguliranih mjenjačnica kao što su GDAX i OTC brokeri kao Cumberland mining. Dok je četvrti hype ciklus započeo 2016. godine, bilo je relativno lako običnim ulagačima kupiti i osigurati bitcoine.

1100 USD – 19600 USD? (2014. –?):

U trenutku pisanja ovog teksta, tržište Bitcoina je prolazilo svoj četvrti veliki hype ciklus. Sudjelovanje u ovom hype ciklusu dominirala je ona skupina koju je Michael Casey opisao kao “rana većina” običnih i institucionalnih ulagača.

Kako su se izvori likvidnosti produbljivali i sazrijevali, veliki institucionalni ulagači sada imaju priliku sudjelovati kroz regulirana “futures” tržišta. Dostupnosti takvih tržišta stvara put ka kreaciji Bitcoin ETF-a (exchange traded fund) (fond na slobodnom tržištu), koji će onda pokrenuti “kasnu većinu” i “najsporije” u sljedećim hype ciklusima.

Premda je nemoguće predvidjeti točan efekt budućih hype ciklusa, razumno je očekivati da će najviša točka biti između 20.000 USD i 50.000 USD (2021. zenit je bio preko 69.000 USD). Znatno više od ovog raspona, i Bitcoin bi imao znatan postotak ukupne vijednosti zlata (zlato i Bitcoin bi imali jednaku tržišnu kapitalizaciju kada bi bitcoini vrijedili oko 380.000 USD u trenutku pisanja ovog teksta). Značajan postotak vrijednosti zlata dolazi od potražnje centralnih banaka, te je malo vjerojatno da će centralne banke ili suverene države sudjelovati u trenutnom hype ciklusu.

Ulazak suverenih država u Bitcoin

Bitcoinov zadnji Gartner hype ciklus će započeti kada ga suverene države počnu akumulirati kao dio svojih rezervi stranih valuta. Tržišna kapitalizacija Bitcoina je trenutno premala da bismo ga smatrali značajnim dodatkom rezervama većini zemalja. No, kako se interes u privatnom sektoru povećava i kapitalizacija Bitcoina se približi trilijunu dolara, postat će dovoljno likvidan za većinu država. Prva država koja službeno doda bitcoine u svoje rezerve će vjerojatno potaknuti stampedo ostalih da učine isto. Države koje su među prvima u usvajanju Bitcoina imat će najviše benefita u svojim knjigama ako Bitcoin u konačnici postane globalna valuta (global reserve currency). Nažalost, vjerojatno će države sa najjačom izvršnom vlasti - diktature poput Sjeverne Koreje - biti najbrže u akumulaciji bitcoina. Neodobravanje prema takvim državama i slaba izvršna tijela zapadnjačkih demokracija uzrokovat će sporost i kašnjenje u akumulaciji bitcoina za njihove vlastite rezerve.

Velika je ironija u tome što je SAD trenutno jedna od regulatorno najotvorenijih nacija prema Bitcoinu, dok su Kina i Rusija najzatvorenije. SAD riskira najviše, geopolitički, ako bi Bitcoin zamijenio dolar kao svjetska rezervna valuta. U 1960-ima, Charles de Gaulle je kritizirao “pretjeranu privilegiju” (“exorbitant privilege”) koju su SAD imale u međunarodnom monetarnom poretku, postavljenom kroz Bretton Woods dogovor 1944. godine. Ruska i kineska vlada još ne shvaćaju geo-strateške benefite Bitcoina kao rezervne valute, te se trenutno brinu o efektima koje bi mogao imati na njihova unutarnja tržišta. Kao de Gaulle u 1960-ima, koji je prijetio SAD-u povratkom na klasični standard zlata, Kinezi i Rusi će s vremenom uvidjeti korist u velikoj poziciji u Bitcoinu - spremištu vrijednosti bez pokrića ijedne vlade. Sa najvećom koncentracijom rudara Bitcoina u Kini (2017.), kineska vlada već ima znatnu potencijalnu prednost u stavljanju bitcoina u svoje rezerve.

SAD se ponosi svojim statusom nacije inovatora, sa Silicijskom dolinom kao krunom svoje ekonomije. Dosad, Silicijska dolina je dominirala konverzacijom usmjerenom prema regulaciji, i poziciji koju bi ona treba zauzeti prema Bitcoinu. No, bankovna industrija i federalna rezerva SAD-a (US Federal Reserve, Fed) napokon počinju uviđati egzistencijalnu prijetnju koju Bitcoin predstavlja za američku monetarnu politiku, postankom globalne rezervne valute. Wall Street Journal, jedan od medijskih glasova federalne reserve, izdao je komentar o Bitcoinu kao prijetnji monetarnoj politici SAD-a:

"Postoji još jedna opasnost, možda i ozbiljnija iz perspektive centralnih banaka i regulatora: bitcoin možda ne propadne. Ako je spekulativni žar u kriptovalutu samo prvi pokazatelj njezinog šireg korištenja kao alternative dolaru, Bitcoin će svakako ugroziti monopol centralnih banaka nad novcem."

U narednim godinama, možemo očekivati veliku borbu između poduzetnika i inovatora u Silicijskoj dolini, koji će pokušavati čuvati Bitcoin od državne kontrole s jedne strane, i bankovne industrije i centralnih banaka koje će učiniti sve što mogu da bi regulirale Bitcoin kako bi spriječile znatne promjene u svojoj industriji i moći izdavanja novca, s druge.

Prijelaz na medij razmjene

Monetarno dobro ne može postati opće prihvaćen medij razmjene (standardna ekonomska definicija za “novac”) prije nego je vrednovano od širokog spektra ljudi; jednostavno, dobro koje nije vrednovano neće biti prihvaćeno u razmjeni. Kroz proces generalnog rasta vrijednosti, i time postanka spremišta vrijednosti, monetarno dobro će brzo narasti u kupovnoj moći, i time stvoriti cijenu za korištenje u razmjeni. Samo kada ta cijena rizika mijenjanja spremišta vrijednosti padne dovoljno nisko, može dobro postati opće prihvaćen medij razmjene.

Preciznije, monetarno dobro će biti prikladno kao medij razmjene samo kada je suma cijene rizika i transakcijske cijene u razmjeni manja nego u trgovini bez tog dobra.

U društvu koje vrši robnu razmjenu, prijelaz spremišta vrijednosti u medij razmjene može se dogoditi čak i onda kada monetarno dobro raste u kupovnoj moći, zato što su transakcijski troškovi robne razmjene iznimno visoki. U razvijenoj ekonomiji, u kojoj su troškovi razmjene niski, moguće je za mladu i rapidno rastućnu tehnologiju spremišta vrijednosti, poput Bitcoina, da se koristi kao medij razmjene, doduše na ograničen način. Jedan primjer je ilegalno tržište droge, gdje su kupci voljni žrtvovati oportunu cijenu čuvanja bitcoina kako bi umanjili znatan rizik kupovine droge koristeći fiat novac.

Postoje međutim velike institucionalne barijere da novonastalo spremište vrijednosti postane sveopće prihvaćen medij razmjene u razvijenom društvu. Države koriste oporezivanje kao moćnu metodu zaštite svojeg suverenog novca protiv rivalskih monetarnih dobara. Ne samo da suvereni novac ima prednost konstantnog izvora potražnje, zato što je porez moguće platiti jedino u njemu, nego su i rivalska monetarna dobra oporezana pri svakoj razmjeni za vrijeme rastuće cijene. Ova metoda oporezivanja stvara znatan otpor korištenju spremišta vrijednosti kao medija razmjene.

Ovakvo sabotiranje tržišnih monetarnih dobara nije nepremostiva barijera za njihovo prihvaćanje kao općeg medija razmjene. Ako ljudi izgube vjeru u suvereni novac, njegova vrijednost može rapidno propasti kroz proces zvan hiperinflacija. Kada suvereni novac prolazi kroz hiperinflaciju, njegova vrijednost propadne prvo u usporedbi sa najlikvidnijim dobrima u društvu, kao što je zlato ili stabilna strana valuta (američki dolar npr.), ako su ona dostupna. Kada nema likvidnih dobara ili ih ima premalo, novac u hiperinflaciji kolabira u usporedbi sa stvarnim dobrima, kao što su nekretnine ili upotrebljiva roba. Arhetipska slika hiperinflacije je trgovina sa praznim policama - potrošači brzo bježe iz propadajuće vrijednosti novca svoje nacije.

Nakon dovoljno vremena, kada je vjera potpuno uništena za vrijeme hiperinflacije, suvereni novac više nitko ne prihvaća, te se društvo može vratiti na robnu razmjenu, ili će doživjeti potpunu zamjenu monetarne jedinice za sredstvo razmjene. Primjer ovog procesa bila je zamjena zimbabveanskog dolara za američki dolar. Takva promjena suverenog novca za stranu valutu je dodatno otežana relativnom oskudnošću strane valute i odsustvom stranih bankarskih institucija koje pružaju likvidnost tržištu.

Sposobnost lakog prenošenja bitcoina preko granica i odsustvo potrebe za bankarskim sustavom čine Bitcoin idealnim monetarnim dobrom za one ljude koji pate pod hiperinflacijom. U nadolazećim godinama, kako fiat valute nastave svoj povijesni trend ka bezvrijednosti, Bitcoin će postati sve popularniji izbor za ušteđevine ljudi diljem svijeta. Kada je novac nacije napušten i zamijenjen Bitcoinom, Bitcoin će napraviti tranziciju iz spremišta vrijednosti u tom društvu u opće prihvaćeno sredstvo razmjene. Daniel Krawicz stvorio je termin “hiperbitcoinizacija” da bi opisao ovaj proces.

Učestala pogrešna shvaćanja

Većina ovog članka usredotočila se na monetarnu prirodu Bitcoina. Sa tim temeljima možemo adresirati neke od najčešćih nerazumijevanja u Bitcoinu.

Bitcoin je balon (bubble)

Bitcoin, kao sva tržišna monetarna dobra, posjeduje monetarnu premiju. Ona često rezultira uobičajenom kritikom da je Bitcoin samo “balon.” No, sva monetarna dobra imaju monetarnu premiju. Naprotiv, ta monetarna premija (cijena viša od one koju diktira potražnja za dobrom kao korisnim) je upravo karakteristična za sve oblike novca. Drugim riječima, novac je uvijek i svuda balon. Paradoksalno, monetarno dobro je istovremeno balon i ispod vrijednosti ukoliko je u ranijim stadijima općeg prihvaćanja kao novac.

Bitcoin je previše volatilan

Volatilnost cijene Bitcoina je funkcija njegovog nedavnog nastanka. U prvih nekoliko godina svojeg postojanja, Bitcoin se ponašao kao mala dionica, i svaki veliki kupac - kao npr. braća Winklevoss - mogao je uzrokovati veliki skok u njegovoj cijeni. No, kako su se prihvaćenost i likvidnost povećavali kroz godine, volatilnost Bitcoina je srazmjerno smanjila. Kada Bitcoin postigne tržišnu kapitalizaciju (vrijednost) zlata, imat će sličnu volatilnost kao i zlato. Kako Bitcoin nastavi rasti, njegova volatilnost će se smanjiti do razine koja ga čini prikladnim za široko korištenje kao medij razmjene. Kao što je prethodno rečeno, monetizacija Bitcoina se odvija u seriji Gartner hype ciklusa. Volatilnost je najniža za vrijeme vrhunaca i dolina unutar ciklusa. Svaki hype ciklus ima nižu volatilnost od prethodnih, zato što je likvidnost tržišta veća.

Cijene transakcija su previsoke

Novija kritika Bitcoin mreže je ta da ju je povećanje cijena prijenosa bitcoina učinilo neprikladnom za sustav plaćanja. No, rast u cijenama transakcija je zdrav i očekivan. One su nužne za plaćanje bitcoin minera (rudara), koji osiguravaju mrežu validacijom transakcija. Rudare se plaća kroz cijene transakcija ili kroz blok-nagrade, koje su inflacijska subvencija od trane trenutnih vlasnika bitcoina.

S obzirom na Bitcoinovu fiksnu proizvodnju (monetarna politika koja ga čini idealnim za spremanje vrijednosti), blok-nagrade će s vremenom nestati i mrežu će se u konačnici morati osiguravati kroz cijene transakcija. Mreža sa “niskim” cijenama transakcija je mreža sa slabom sigurnosti i osjetljiva na vanjsku intervenciju i cenzuru. Oni koji hvale niske cijene Bitcoinovih alternative zapravo niti ne znajući opisuju slabosti tih takozvanih “alt-coina.”

Površan temelj kritika Bitcoinovih “visokih” cijena transakcija je uvjerenje da bi Bitcoin trebao biti prvo sustav plaćanja, i drugo spremište vrijednosti. Kao što smo vidjeli kroz povijest novca, ovo uvjerenje je naopako. Samo onda kada Bitcoin postane duboko ukorijenjeno spremište novca može biti prikladan kao sredstvo razmjene. Nadalje, kada oportunitetni trošak razmjene bitcoina dođe na razinu koja ga čini prikladnim sredstvom razmjene, većina trgovine neće se odvijati na samoj Bitcoin mreži, nego na mrežama “drugog sloja” (second layer) koje će imati niže cijene transakcija. Takve mreže, poput Lightning mreže, služe kao moderna verzija zadužnica koje su korištene za prijenos vlasničkih papira zlata u 19. stoljeću. Banke su koristile zadužnice zato što je prijenos samog metala bio daleko skuplji. Za razliku od takvih zadužnica, Lightning mreža će omogućavati nisku cijenu prijenosa bitcoina bez potrebe za povjerenjem prema trećoj strani, poput banaka. Razvoj Lightning mreže je tehnološka inovacija od izuzetne važnosti u povijesti Bitcoina, i njezina vrijednost će postati očita u narednim godinama, kako je sve više ljudi bude razvijalo i koristilo.

Konkurencija

Pošto je Bitcoin softverski protokol otvorenog tipa (open-source), oduvijek je bilo moguće kopirati softver i imitirati mrežu. Kroz godine nastajali su mnogi imitatori, od identičnih kopija, kao Litecoin, do kompleksnijih varijanti kao što je Ethereum, koje obećavaju arbitrarno kompleksne ugovorne mehanizme koristeći decentralizirani računalni sustav. Česta kritika Bitcoinu od strane ulagača je ta da on ne može zadržati svoju vrijednost kada je vrlo lako stvoriti konkurente koji mogu lako i brzo u sebi imati najnovije inovacije i softverske funkcionalnosti.

Greška u ovom argumentu leži u manju takozvanog “mrežnog efekta” (network effect), koji postoji u prvoj i dominantnoj tehnologiji u nekom području. Mrežni efekt - velika vrijednost korištenja Bitcoina samo zato što je već dominantan - je važno svojstvo samo po sebi. Za svaku tehnologiju koja posjeduje mrežni efekt, to je daleko najvažnije svojstvo koje može imati.

Za Bitcoin, mrežni efekt uključuje likvidnost njegovog tržišta, broj ljudi koji ga posjeduju, i zajednicu programera koji održavaju i unaprjeđuju njegov softver i svjesnost u javnosti. Veliki ulagači, uključujući države, će uvijek prvo tražiti najlikvidnije tržište, kako bi mogli ući i izaći iz tržišta brzo, i bez utjecanja na cijenu. Programeri će se pridružiti dominantnoj programerskoj zajednici sa najboljim talentom, i time pojačati samu zajednicu. Svjesnost o brendu sama sebe pojačava, pošto se nadobudni konkurenti Bitcoina uvijek spominju u kontekstu Bitcoina kao takvog.

Raskrižje na putu (fork)

Trend koji je postao popularan 2017. godine nije bio samo imitacija Bitcoinovog softvera, nego kopiranje potpune povijesti njegovih prošlih transakcija (cijeli blockchain). Kopiranjem Bitcoinovog blockchaina do određene točke/bloka i odvajanjem sljedećih blokova ka novoj mreži, u procesu znanom kao “forking” (odvajanje), Bitcoinovi konkurenti su uspjeli riješiti problem distribuiranja svojeg tokena velikom broju korisnika.

Najznačajniji takav fork dogodio se 1. 8. 2017. godine, kada je nova mreža nazvana Bitcoin Cash (Bcash) stvorena. Vlasnik N količine bitcoina prije 1.8.2017. bi onda posjedovao N bitcoina i N BCash tokena. Mala, ali vrlo glasna zajednica Bcash proponenata je neumorno pokušavala prisvojiti Bitcoinov brend i ime, imenujući svoju novu mrežu Bitcoin Cast i pokušavajući uvjeriti nove pridošlice u Bitcoin da je Bcash “pravi” Bitcoin. Ti pokušaji su većinom propali, i taj neuspjeh se vidi u tržišnim kapitalizacijama dviju mreža. No, za nove ulagače, i dalje postoji rizik da bi konkurent mogao kopirati Bitcoin i njegov blockchain i tako uspjeti u preuzimanju tržišne kapitalizacije, te postati de facto Bitcoin.

Moguće je uočiti važno pravilo gledajući velike forkove u prošlosti Bitcoin i Ethereum mreža. Većina tržišne kapitalizacije odvijat će se na mreži koja zadrži najviši stupanj talenta i aktivnosti u zajednici programera. Premda se na Bitcoin može gledati kao na nov i mlad novac, on je također računalna mreža koja počiva na softveru, kojeg se pak treba održavati i poboljšavati. Kupovina tokena na mreži koja ima malo neiskusnih programera bilo bi kao kupovati kopiju Microsoft Windowsa na kojoj rade lošiji programeri. Jasno je vidljivo iz povijesti forkova koji su se odvili 2017. godine da su najbolji računalni i kriptografski stručnjaci posvećeni razvoju originalnog Bitcoina, a ne nekoj od rastućeg broja imitacija koje su se izrodile iz njega.

Stvarni rizici

Premda su uobičajene kritike upućene Bitconu od strane medija i ekonomske profesije krive i bazirane na netočnom shvaćanju novca, postoje pravi i značajni rizici kod ulaganja u Bitcoin. Bilo bi mudro za novog Bitcoin ulagača da shvati ove rizike prije potencijalnog ulaganja.

Rizik protokola

Bitcoin protokol i kriptografski sastavni dijelovi na kojima je sagrađen potencijalno imaju dosad nepronađenu grešku u svom dizajnu, ili mogu postati nesigurni razvojem kvantnih računala. Ako se pronađe greška u protokolu, ili neka nova metoda računarstva učini mogućim probijanje kriptografskih temelja Bitcoina, vjera u Bitcoin biti će znatno narušena. Rizik protokola bio je najviši u ranim godinama razvoja Bitcoina, kada je još uvijek bilo nejasno, čak i iskusnim kriptografima, je li Satoshi Nakamoto zaista riješio problem bizantskih generala (Byzantine Generals’ Problem). Brige oko ozbiljnih grešaka u Bitcoin protokolu nestale su kroz godine, no uzevši u obzir njegovu tehnološku prirodu, rizik protokola će uvijek ostati u Bitcoinu, makar i kao izuzetak.

Propadanje mjenjačnica

Time što je decentraliziran, Bitcoin je pokazao značajnu otpornost, suočen sa brojnim pokušajima raznih vlada da ga reguliraju ili unište. No, mjenjačnice koje trguju bitcoinima za fiat valute su centralizirani entiteti i podložne regulacijama i zatvaranju. Bez mjenjačnica i volje bankara da s njima posluju, proces monetizacije Bitcoina bio bi ozbiljno usporen, ako ne i potpuno zaustavljen. Iako postoje alternativni izvori likvidnosti za Bitcoin, poput “over-the-counter” brokera i decentraliziranih tržišta za kupovinu i prodaju bitcoina, kritičan proces otkrivanja i definiranja cijene se odvija na najlikvidnijim mjenjačnicama, koje su sve centralizirane.

Jedan od načina za umanjivanje rizika gašenja mjenjačnica je geografska arbitraža. Binance, jedna od velikih mjenjačnica iz Kine, preselila se u Japan nakon što joj je kineska vlada zabranila operiranje u Kini. Vlade su također oprezne kako ne bi ugušile novu industriju koja je potencijalno značajna kao i internet, i time predale nevjerojatnu konkurentnu vrijednost drugim nacijama.

Samo kroz koordinirano globalno ukidanje Bitcoin mjenjačnica bi proces monetizacije mogao biti zaustavljen. Trenutno smo u utrci; Bitcoin raste i postaje sve rašireniji, i doći će do trenutka kada bi potpuno ukidanje mjenjačnica postalo politički neizvedivo - kao i gašenje interneta. Mogućnost takvog ukidanja je još uvijek realna, i valja je uzeti u obzir pri ulaganju u Bitcoin. Kao što je gore objašnjeno, suverene vlade se polako bude i uviđaju prijetnju koju predstavlja neovisna digitalna valuta otporna na cenzuru, za njihovu monetarnu politiku. Otvoreno je pitanje hoće li išta poduzeti da odgovore ovoj prijetnji prije nego Bitcoin postane toliko utvrđen i raširen da politička akcija postane nemoćna i ne-efektivna.

Zamjenjivost

Otvorena i transparentna priroda Bitcoin blockchaina omogućava državama da proglase specifične bitcoine “okaljanima” zbog njihovog korištenja u određenim aktivnostima. Premda Bitcoin, na protokolarnoj razini, ne diskriminira transakcije na ikoji način, “okaljani” bitcoini bi mogli postati bezvrijedni ako bi ih regulacije proglasile ilegalnima i neprihvatljivima za mjenjačnice ili trgovce. Bitcoin bi tada izgubio jedno od kritičnih svojstava monetarnog dobra: zamjenjivost.

Da bi se ovaj problem riješio i umanjio, biti će potrebna poboljšanja na razini protokola kako bi se poboljšala privatnost transakcija. Premda postoji napredak u ovom smjeru, prvi put primjenjen u digitalnim valutama kao što su Monero i Zcash, potrebno je napraviti značajne tehnološke kompromise između efikasnosti i kompleksnosti Bitcoina i njegove privatnosti. Pitanje ostaje otvoreno je li moguće dodati nova svojstva privatnosti na Bitcoin, na način koji neće kompromitirati njegovu korisnost kao novca.

Zaključak

Bitcoin je novonastali novac koji je u procesu transformacije iz sakupljačkog dobra u spremište vrijednosti. Kao neovisno monetarno dobro, moguće je da će u budućnosti postati globalan novac, slično kao zlato za vrijeme 19. stoljeća. Prihvaćanje Bitcoina kao globalnog novca je upravo taj optimističan scenarij za Bitcoin, kojeg je artikulirao Satoshi Nakamoto još 2010. godine u email razmjeni sa Mikeom Hearnom:

"Ako zamisliš da se koristi u nekom dijelu svjetske trgovine, i da će postojati samo 21 milijun bitcoina za cijeli svijet, vrijednost po jedinici će biti znatno veća".

Ovaj scenarij je još snažnije definirao briljantni kriptograf Hal Finney, koji je ujedno primio i prve bitcoine od Nakamotoa, ubrzo nakon najave prvog funkcionalnog Bitcoin softvera:

"Zamislimo da Bitcoin bude uspješan i postane dominantan sustav plaćanja diljem svijeta. U tom slučaju će ukupna vrijednost valute biti jednaka ukupnoj vrijednosti svog bogatstva svijeta. Današnje procjene ukupnog svjetskog bogatska kućanstava koje sam pronašao borave negdje između 100 i 300 trilijuna dolara. Sa 20 milijuna bitcoina, svaki bi onda vrijedio oko 10 milijuna dolara."

Čak i da Bitcoin ne postane u cijelost globalan novac, nego da se samo natječe sa zlatom kao neovisno spremište vrijednosti, i dalje je masivno podcijenjen. Mapiranje tržišne kapitalizacije postojeće količine izrudarenog zlata (oko 8 trilijuna dolara) na maksimalnu dostupnost Bitcoina od 21 milijun, daje vrijednost od otprilike 380,000 dolara po bitcoinu. Kao što smo vidjeli u prethodnom tekstu, svojstva koja omogućavaju monetarnom dobru da bude prikladno spremište vrijednosti, čine Bitcoin superiornijim zlatu u svakom pogledu osim trajanja povijesti. No, kako vrijeme prolazi i Lindy efekt postane jači, dosadašnja povijest će prestati biti prednost zlata. Samim time, nije nerazumno očekivati da će Bitcoin narasti do, a možda i preko, ukupne cijene zlata na tržištvu do 2030. Opaska ovoj tezi je činjenica da veliki postotak vrijednosti zlata dolazi od toga što ga centralne banke čuvaju kao spremište vrijednosti. Da bi Bitcoin došao do te razine, određena količina suverenih država će trebati sudjelovati. Hoće li zapadnjačke demokracije sudjelovati u vlasništvu Bitcoina je nepoznato. Vjerojatnije je, nažalost, da će prve nacije u Bitcoin tržištu biti sitne diktature i kleptokracije.

Ako niti jedna država ne bude sudjelovala u Bitcoin tržištu, optimistična teza i dalje postoji. Kao nevisno spremište vrijednosti u rukama individualnih i institucionalnih ulagača, Bitcoin je i dalje vrlo rano u svojoj “krivulji prihvaćenosti” (adoption curve); tzv. “rana većina” ulaze na tržište sada, dok će ostali ući tek nekoliko godina kasnije. Sa širim sudjelovanjem individualnih i institucionalnih ulagača, cijena po bitcoinu između 100,000 i 200,000 dolara je sasvim moguća.

Posjedovanje bitcoina je jedna od malobrojnih asimetričnih novčanih strategija dostupnih svakome na svijetu. Poput “call” opcija, negativan rizik ulagača je ograničen na 1x, dok potencijalna dobit i dalje iznosi 100x ili više. Bitcoin je prvi istinski globalan balon čija je veličina ograničena samo potražnjom i željom građana svijeta da zaštite svoju ušteđevinu od raznovrsnih ekonomskih malverzacija vlade. Bitcoin je ustao kao feniks iz pepela globalne financijske krize 2008. godine - katastrofe kojoj su prethodile odluke centralnih banaka poput američke Federalne rezerve (Federal Reserve).

Onkraj samo financijske teze za Bitcoin, njegov rast i uspjeh kao neovisno spremište vrijednosti imat će duboke geopolitičke posljedice. Globalna, ne-inflacijska valuta će prisiliti suverene države da promjene svoje primarne mehanizme financiranja od inflacije u izravno oporezivanje; koje je daleko manje politički popularno. Države će se smanjivati proporcionalno političkoj boli koju im nanese oporezivanje kao jedini način financiranja. Nadalje, globalna trgovina vršiti će se na način koji zadovoljava aspiraciju Charlesa de Gaullea, da nijedna nacija ne bi smjela imati privilegiju nad ikojom drugom:

"Smatramo da je potrebno da se uspostavi međunarodna trgovina, kao što je bio slučaj prije velikih nesreća koje su zadesile svijet, na neosporivoj monetarnoj bazi, koja ne nosi na sebi oznaku ijedne države."

Za 50 godina, ta monetarna baza biti će Bitcoin.

@ 04c915da:3dfbecc9

This piece is the first in a series that will focus on things I think are a priority if your focus is similar to mine: building a strong family and safeguarding their future.

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Choosing the ideal place to raise a family is one of the most significant decisions you will ever make. For simplicity sake I will break down my thought process into key factors: strong property rights, the ability to grow your own food, access to fresh water, the freedom to own and train with guns, and a dependable community.

A Jurisdiction with Strong Property Rights

Strong property rights are essential and allow you to build on a solid foundation that is less likely to break underneath you. Regions with a history of limited government and clear legal protections for landowners are ideal. Personally I think the US is the single best option globally, but within the US there is a wide difference between which state you choose. Choose carefully and thoughtfully, think long term. Obviously if you are not American this is not a realistic option for you, there are other solid options available especially if your family has mobility. I understand many do not have this capability to easily move, consider that your first priority, making movement and jurisdiction choice possible in the first place.

Abundant Access to Fresh Water

Water is life. I cannot overstate the importance of living somewhere with reliable, clean, and abundant freshwater. Some regions face water scarcity or heavy regulations on usage, so prioritizing a place where water is plentiful and your rights to it are protected is critical. Ideally you should have well access so you are not tied to municipal water supplies. In times of crisis or chaos well water cannot be easily shutoff or disrupted. If you live in an area that is drought prone, you are one drought away from societal chaos. Not enough people appreciate this simple fact.

Grow Your Own Food

A location with fertile soil, a favorable climate, and enough space for a small homestead or at the very least a garden is key. In stable times, a small homestead provides good food and important education for your family. In times of chaos your family being able to grow and raise healthy food provides a level of self sufficiency that many others will lack. Look for areas with minimal restrictions, good weather, and a culture that supports local farming.

Guns

The ability to defend your family is fundamental. A location where you can legally and easily own guns is a must. Look for places with a strong gun culture and a political history of protecting those rights. Owning one or two guns is not enough and without proper training they will be a liability rather than a benefit. Get comfortable and proficient. Never stop improving your skills. If the time comes that you must use a gun to defend your family, the skills must be instinct. Practice. Practice. Practice.

A Strong Community You Can Depend On

No one thrives alone. A ride or die community that rallies together in tough times is invaluable. Seek out a place where people know their neighbors, share similar values, and are quick to lend a hand. Lead by example and become a good neighbor, people will naturally respond in kind. Small towns are ideal, if possible, but living outside of a major city can be a solid balance in terms of work opportunities and family security.

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Let me know if you found this helpful. My plan is to break down how I think about these five key subjects in future posts.

@ 04c915da:3dfbecc9

Here’s a revised timeline of macro-level events from The Mandibles: A Family, 2029–2047 by Lionel Shriver, reimagined in a world where Bitcoin is adopted as a widely accepted form of money, altering the original narrative’s assumptions about currency collapse and economic control. In Shriver’s original story, the failure of Bitcoin is assumed amid the dominance of the bancor and the dollar’s collapse. Here, Bitcoin’s success reshapes the economic and societal trajectory, decentralizing power and challenging state-driven outcomes.

Part One: 2029–2032

• 2029 (Early Year)\ The United States faces economic strain as the dollar weakens against global shifts. However, Bitcoin, having gained traction emerges as a viable alternative. Unlike the original timeline, the bancor—a supranational currency backed by a coalition of nations—struggles to gain footing as Bitcoin’s decentralized adoption grows among individuals and businesses worldwide, undermining both the dollar and the bancor.

• 2029 (Mid-Year: The Great Renunciation)\ Treasury bonds lose value, and the government bans Bitcoin, labeling it a threat to sovereignty (mirroring the original bancor ban). However, a Bitcoin ban proves unenforceable—its decentralized nature thwarts confiscation efforts, unlike gold in the original story. Hyperinflation hits the dollar as the U.S. prints money, but Bitcoin’s fixed supply shields adopters from currency devaluation, creating a dual-economy split: dollar users suffer, while Bitcoin users thrive.

• 2029 (Late Year)\ Dollar-based inflation soars, emptying stores of goods priced in fiat currency. Meanwhile, Bitcoin transactions flourish in underground and online markets, stabilizing trade for those plugged into the bitcoin ecosystem. Traditional supply chains falter, but peer-to-peer Bitcoin networks enable local and international exchange, reducing scarcity for early adopters. The government’s gold confiscation fails to bolster the dollar, as Bitcoin’s rise renders gold less relevant.

• 2030–2031\ Crime spikes in dollar-dependent urban areas, but Bitcoin-friendly regions see less chaos, as digital wallets and smart contracts facilitate secure trade. The U.S. government doubles down on surveillance to crack down on bitcoin use. A cultural divide deepens: centralized authority weakens in Bitcoin-adopting communities, while dollar zones descend into lawlessness.

• 2032\ By this point, Bitcoin is de facto legal tender in parts of the U.S. and globally, especially in tech-savvy or libertarian-leaning regions. The federal government’s grip slips as tax collection in dollars plummets—Bitcoin’s traceability is low, and citizens evade fiat-based levies. Rural and urban Bitcoin hubs emerge, while the dollar economy remains fractured.

Time Jump: 2032–2047

• Over 15 years, Bitcoin solidifies as a global reserve currency, eroding centralized control. The U.S. government adapts, grudgingly integrating bitcoin into policy, though regional autonomy grows as Bitcoin empowers local economies.

Part Two: 2047

• 2047 (Early Year)\ The U.S. is a hybrid state: Bitcoin is legal tender alongside a diminished dollar. Taxes are lower, collected in BTC, reducing federal overreach. Bitcoin’s adoption has decentralized power nationwide. The bancor has faded, unable to compete with Bitcoin’s grassroots momentum.

• 2047 (Mid-Year)\ Travel and trade flow freely in Bitcoin zones, with no restrictive checkpoints. The dollar economy lingers in poorer areas, marked by decay, but Bitcoin’s dominance lifts overall prosperity, as its deflationary nature incentivizes saving and investment over consumption. Global supply chains rebound, powered by bitcoin enabled efficiency.

• 2047 (Late Year)\ The U.S. is a patchwork of semi-autonomous zones, united by Bitcoin’s universal acceptance rather than federal control. Resource scarcity persists due to past disruptions, but economic stability is higher than in Shriver’s original dystopia—Bitcoin’s success prevents the authoritarian slide, fostering a freer, if imperfect, society.

Key Differences

• Currency Dynamics: Bitcoin’s triumph prevents the bancor’s dominance and mitigates hyperinflation’s worst effects, offering a lifeline outside state control.
• Government Power: Centralized authority weakens as Bitcoin evades bans and taxation, shifting power to individuals and communities.
• Societal Outcome: Instead of a surveillance state, 2047 sees a decentralized, bitcoin driven world—less oppressive, though still stratified between Bitcoin haves and have-nots.

This reimagining assumes Bitcoin overcomes Shriver’s implied skepticism to become a robust, adopted currency by 2029, fundamentally altering the novel’s bleak trajectory.

@ 6e0ea5d6:0327f353

Ascolta bene! It is more dignified to thirst alone in the desert than to share wine with someone who has no thirst for conquest.

On the silent path to success, it’s not the declared enemies who slow the march, but rather the friends. Not the noble or loyal ones, but the failures—those who carry a dull glint in their eyes, chronic laziness in their spirit, and the eternal excuse of bad luck in their pockets. Friendship, when poorly chosen, becomes a polished anchor, tied to your ankle with ropes named camaraderie.

Nothing weighs heavier on the journey than having to endure the failed and envious around you. It is a kind of emotional parasitism that begins with empathy and ends in stagnation. Those who live among the weak will crawl. Those who keep company with miserable friends, instead of striving to prosper, learn to curse wealth—not out of ethics, but out of envy. Mediocrity, my friend, is contagious. And it does not take root suddenly, but like a silent epidemic.

Ambition—that fire that burns in the bones of great men—will always seem like arrogance to the ears of the failed. Those who have never built anything, except arguments to justify their paralysis, will never understand the fury of someone born to conquer. And so, with smiles, they spit venom: “Calm down,” they say, “be content,” they advise. Hypocrites. What they call humility is nothing more than resignation to their own defeat.

To walk alone, with hunger and honor, is worth more than feasting at lavish tables at the cost of your own sweat, surrounded by parasites who toast your downfall with glasses full of praise. No one prospers where the conversation is filled with complaints, criticism, and envy. What does not build up, corrodes.

The rust of the weak is invisible at first—a bitter joke here, a veiled critique there. And before you know it, the structure is already rotten. Of the friendship, only the weight remains. Of the relationship, only exhaustion. The true enemy of success is the company of those who have failed and wish for you the same fate. These tragic figures—always tired, always victims—are masters of collective self-sabotage.

Feel no remorse in abandoning those who build nothing and consume everything. And in that abandonment, you become freer, stronger, and unbreakable.

Thank you for reading, my friend!

If this message resonated with you, consider leaving your "🥃" as a token of appreciation.

A toast to our family!

@ 6e0ea5d6:0327f353

"Malcolm Forbes recounts that a lady, wearing a faded cotton dress, and her husband, dressed in an old handmade suit, stepped off a train in Boston, USA, and timidly made their way to the office of the president of Harvard University. They had come from Palo Alto, California, and had not scheduled an appointment. The secretary, at a glance, thought that those two, looking like country bumpkins, had no business at Harvard.
— We want to speak with the president — the man said in a low voice.
— He will be busy all day — the secretary replied curtly.
— We will wait.
The secretary ignored them for hours, hoping the couple would finally give up and leave. But they stayed there, and the secretary, somewhat frustrated, decided to bother the president, although she hated doing that.
— If you speak with them for just a few minutes, maybe they will decide to go away — she said.
The president sighed in irritation but agreed. Someone of his importance did not have time to meet people like that, but he hated faded dresses and tattered suits in his office. With a stern face, he went to the couple.
— We had a son who studied at Harvard for a year — the woman said. — He loved Harvard and was very happy here, but a year ago he died in an accident, and we would like to erect a monument in his honor somewhere on campus.

— My lady — said the president rudely —, we cannot erect a statue for every person who studied at Harvard and died; if we did, this place would look like a cemetery.

— Oh, no — the lady quickly replied. — We do not want to erect a statue. We would like to donate a building to Harvard.

The president looked at the woman's faded dress and her husband's old suit and exclaimed:

— A building! Do you have even the faintest idea of how much a building costs? We have more than seven and a half million dollars' worth of buildings here at Harvard.

The lady was silent for a moment, then said to her husband:

— If that’s all it costs to found a university, why don’t we have our own?

The husband agreed.

The couple, Leland Stanford, stood up and left, leaving the president confused. Traveling back to Palo Alto, California, they established there Stanford University, the second-largest in the world, in honor of their son, a former Harvard student."

Text extracted from: "Mileumlivros - Stories that Teach Values."

Thank you for reading, my friend! If this message helped you in any way, consider leaving your glass “🥃” as a token of appreciation.

A toast to our family!

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

GameStop Buys $513 Million Worth of Bitcoin

Video game retailer GameStop has purchased 4,710 Bitcoin worth approximately $513 million, marking another major corporate entry into Bitcoin treasury holdings as the trend of companies adding Bitcoin to their balance sheets accelerates in 2025.

The company announced the acquisition via X on Wednesday but did not disclose specific details about when the purchases were made or the average price paid per coin. The move follows GameStop’s March announcement of plans to pursue a Bitcoin treasury strategy, which included a $1.3 billion convertible senior notes offering to fund Bitcoin purchases.

BREAKING: GAMESTOP PURCHASED 4,710 #BITCOIN pic.twitter.com/fDH9ctZJVP

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) May 28, 2025

GameStop’s Bitcoin acquisition represents a strategic shift in corporate treasury management, following the playbook established by companies like Strategy.

The purchase comes amid a surge in corporate Bitcoin adoption, with over 50 public companies announcing Bitcoin treasury programs in the first five months of 2025. Recent entrants include 21 Capital, Strive, H100 Group and more.

The announcement pushed GameStop’s shares up 4.4% in pre-market trading, while Bitcoin traded near $108,900. The company reported $4.78 billion in cash and marketable securities as of February 1, suggesting this Bitcoin investment represents approximately 10.7% of its liquid assets.

The move follows similar treasury diversification strategies by other major corporations, including Tesla’s $1.25 billion Bitcoin holding and recent announcements from Trump Media and Technology Group of plans to raise $2.5 billion for Bitcoin purchases.

At press time, Bitcoin trades at $108,900, down 0.68% over the past 24 hours, as the market processes this significant institutional development and its implications for broader corporate adoption of Bitcoin as a treasury asset.

This post GameStop Buys $513 Million Worth of Bitcoin first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Vivek Sen.

@ e9d7ed6f:f52b3346

I'd like to toss it off by thanking you my reader, friends, associates, strangers, bitcoiners, cryptonaires, economists, and critics from all walks of life for granting me this opportunity to write to you. yeah?...

Is that readable? Is there enough ink in this pen to write? Let me squash and develop a fresh script!

Okay now, that was one heck of a disaster introduction my friends.

That's not even the way Satoshi introduced his White paper back in 2008, or rather mined his first block. So dear reader, lets pretend this introduction never happened lets give it one more kick start.

Alright we are set so here we go...

Flavatos, Gateway Mall, the left ventricle of Lilongwe's heart, Malawi is where the aroma of a fresh bitcoin pizza sent waves of spattering energy, broadcasting to all nodes over the bitcoin network. Pizza crums spread over the table, folks and knives faced opposite directions, tomato sauce on the white plate had contours of pizza passage, a half baked joke & its laughter could be heard by passersby's heading inside the mall. It was chilly Saturday afternoon from outside but the soft drinks were a must to soften the well baked fragments of pizza which were being churned. All thanks to Larszlo Keyckenes. Phones where right on the table as the photographer snapped every detail of moment with his camera, trying to paint a bitcoin Monalisa, innocence was in the youthful energetic bitcoiners who filled left to right seats in pairs. Three tables were joined together making a table tennis appear short, but the waitress had to check for any empty slot to squeeze a chair in. We were twenty three with the expection of thirty but the space was just plentiful.

Flavatos was ready and set. The waitress again, with a smile of welcoming a guest whispered right besides where i was standing that the pizza is ready, but i had to HODL for a moment, we were just setting up the laptop which we would use to connect & listen to a presentation by John Miller, a distant relative and a bitcoiner we had talked of for weeks. As if am very good at analysing charts, the looks of the faces were eagerly waiting and i when i looked on my wrist i realised we didn't have much more time other than to start off, so i clapped my hands to capture everyones attention. I was excited to welcome all & really appreciate for sparing their time to come.

There was buzz in the atmosphere, all eyes glued to me as i thanked the cofounder Grant for pulling the strings, in our presence we had the cofounder of women of Satoshi Yankho who i was facing directly to my right hand side and threw me sparkle of acknowledgement, i couldn't forget & sweep under the mat, John Miller sponsor for the Bitcoin Pizza who is currently in the US & was waiting to deliver a speech on this very moment. All started off in the right order, my stomach tuned as my brain signaled the pizza image, sending tickling hunger sensation, so not to keep everyone waiting longer, i handed it over to Grant who quickly threw like free shot on the free throw line. There was genuine appreciation and he set the floor ready for John Miller to grace and unwrap the Pizza. When John took on the google meet space, we all fixed to our phones, eager to see John who was seven hours away from us, about two or three plane tickets to get where he was physically located. John delivered a twenty minute presentation that would make a fresh graduate take off his hat and really consider what they did the last four years of their university. There was a lot of knowledge on his presentation, highlighting the eminent nails to the coffin for US dollar, the chart and numbers didn't lie when he displayed how the purchasing power of the dollar has declined since 1971 post detachment from gold. He spoke with authority on why bitcoin, how Bitcoiners should continue orange pilling and detoxing all the pool of confusion of the current FIAT sytem. It was listening to wisdom of an old man, giving the torch to the young ones. The waitress had brought to the table clean white plates with some folks wrapped in a white napkin tissue that appeared so white as Satoshi's white paper. In no time the pizza was ready to bona petite, John wrapped up in a cousy style by saying, "keep stacking Sats and avoiding shitcoins. The attendees were in pairs and hands were rubbing, contemplating of how the first bite would feel. The enzymes were ready to digest. The next host, who happens to be the writer of this article had to take the floor and give short remarks to thank John, Grant and everyone. I saw the pizza being cut into slices, whilst others took sips of their favorite soft drinks, there were smiles from left to right check. The sound chewing was amplified, triggering my ear drums to some vibe. This was was a big family reunion. My signal for speaking almost went off as the aroma teased the mind, i saw the bubble from the fanta bottle float up but i was mature to handled the temper of my hunger. As the pizza halvening was going on, I reminded of how significant this moment was when Larszlo Heykens first made an offer of 10,000 BTC & how it signified use case of bitcoin as a medium of exchange and a resort of finality between two counterparts without any middleman. It surely was moment that reminded us of the free markets. Where two counterparts chose their own commodities of exchange and each left satisfied as finality of transactions. Truly those were the good old free market days. By the time i said goodbye, my counterparts had already mined half of the pizza brought. I was about to pop a question of where is my share when i saw three more full plates of pizza broadcasted & awaiting for verification. I knew i was in for a treat.

As i kept my hands, mouth and tummy busy, one surprising moment really fired me up with excitement. Grant stood up and surprised everyone by introducing his new friend from Kenya. He said they had met in Mulanje and how they came across each other was purely a barter coincidence of wants. Rather him explaining, he let our new Kenyan explorer share the fascinating story of how he wanted to send funds in Kenya but couldn't find means of transalating our local currency into the Kenyan shilling. So how could these two opposite worlds tie together? When he saw the post of bitcoin accepted here, it sparked the charge. Using Bitcoin, he was able to send funds in Kenya via bitcoin lightening wallet through Tando and Mpesa. As if we were in a cinema watching possibilities become realities, a demostration was showcased how inter transactions are done from a wallet of Satoshi lightening wallet to Tando whilst eating pizza in Malawi.

It was truly a fantastic orange day to pill and slice. See you in the next article as i continue to polish my writing skills.

Pacharo Nyirenda. Bitcoinboma An amature writer but soon to be pro writer & blogger!

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

Bitcoin Enters a New Era: Industry Leaders Predict Trillions in Institutional Inflows

At the 2025 Bitcoin Conference in Las Vegas, the Founder and CEO of Kelly Intelligence Kevin Kelly, the Chief Executive Officer of Bitwise Asset Management Hunter Horsley, the CEO of BitGo Mike Belshe and the Advisor of WBTC Justin Sun talked about the future of financial products in the globe. 

Hunter Horsley started the panel by saying that we are entering a new chapter in 2025 with the change in the regulatory circumstances.

“In the US wealth managers manage between 30 and 60 trillion dollars,” said Horsley. “If wealth managers wind up allocating 1% to the space on behalf of their clients, helping their clients access the opportunities here that are hundreds and billions of dollars.”

JUST IN: $12 billion Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley says if wealth managers allocate 1% to #Bitcoin, “that's hundreds of billions of dollars.” pic.twitter.com/4OhoBjwDYR

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) May 27, 2025

Justin Sun emphasized the importance of integrating Bitcoin into decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms:

“Raw Bitcoin is a way to get your Bitcoin into a smart contract platform,” said Sun. “You can use your Bitcoin as collateral you borrow like stablecoin, you borrow other major crypto currencies tokens and also of course generate yield on the Bitcoin you are holding because Bitcoin is a proof of network.”

“Any transaction you can see in the blockchain and all the reserve addresses is available on the Blockchain. It’s safe and transparent and at the same time is smart,” stated Sun.

Mike Belshe elaborated on the foundational elements that make a stablecoin successful, particularly when Bitcoin is used in that context.

“What makes a good stablecoin whether you are talking about dollars or Bitcoin, it’s the liquidity that you have on the market around the world,” stated Belshe.

Horsley continued by addressing that we’ll see more companies adopting this and hundreds of thousands of Bitcoin being put onto more balance sheets. 

“Corporations are buying Bitcoin,” commented Horsley. “It’s an extraordinary theme of this year. As of the first quarter of this year, 79 publicly traded companies had put Bitcoin on their balance sheet. Over 600k Bitcoin and there is only 21 million Bitcoin. It’s a lot of Bitcoin”

Justin Sun closed the panel by stating, “the progress we are making here in the United States really matters because as we all further encourage people around the world to get into the Bitcoin industry.”

“Once Bitcoin passes this kind of stage and gets institution adoption in the United States will accelerate that option globally,” said Sun.

This post Bitcoin Enters a New Era: Industry Leaders Predict Trillions in Institutional Inflows first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Oscar Zarraga Perez.

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

Steak ‘n Shake Reveals Bitcoin Payment Success at Bitcoin 2025 Conference

Speaking at the Bitcoin 2025 Conference this morning, Steak ‘n Shake executive Dan Edwards shared new data and insights from the company’s recent move to accept Bitcoin payments globally via the Lightning Network. 

JUST IN: Fast food giant Steak 'n Shake announced they're saving 50% in processing fees accepting Bitcoin payments

'#Bitcoin is faster than credit cards' pic.twitter.com/bxApgBL6El

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) May 27, 2025

“On May 16, we began accepting Bitcoin as payment in all of our locations where permitted to do so by law,” Edwards began. “This is a global implementation.” 

According to Edwards, Bitcoin transactions are already outperforming expectations. “The day we launched Bitcoin, 1 out of every 500 bitcoin transactions in the world happened at Steak ‘n Shake,” he said. 

Steak ‘n Shake is also saving significantly on processing fees. “Bitcoin is faster than credit cards, and when customers choose to pay in Bitcoin, we’re saving 50% in processing fees,” said Edwards. “That makes Bitcoin a win for the customer, a win for us, and a win for the Bitcoin community.” 

He emphasized that the decision was not a publicity stunt, but a serious payment upgrade. “We didn’t see this as a marketing gimmick. We saw it as a viable option to pay—on par with other globally accepted methods.” 

The company reports that customer behavior has already shifted. “We’ve seen a sustained spike since adding Bitcoin,” Edwards noted. 

Edwards also teased the company’s future plans, calling for more technical talent. “We’re not done. We’re investing in cyber chefs, autonomous drives, AI tech—and we need engineers to help us build it.” 

To celebrate Bitcoin integration, limited-edition Bitcoin-themed menu items are launching this week in Las Vegas, including the Bitcoin Burger, Super-Sized Bitcoin Meal, and Bitcoin Milkshake. A “blockchain menu” is also in the works. 

“Celebrate the use of Bitcoin,” Edwards concluded. “Because this is just the beginning.”

This post Steak ‘n Shake Reveals Bitcoin Payment Success at Bitcoin 2025 Conference first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Jenna Montgomery.

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

Cowbolt Announces Their Mission to Make Bitcoin Familiar to Everybody

Today at the Bitcoin Conference in Las Vegas, Cowbolt, an app that lets you split expense payments and settle in bitcoin, will launch their mission: turn peer-to-peer payments into a Bitcoin onramp, starting with family and friends.

Cowbolt will let their clients split costs and settle instantly using Bitcoin and USDT, with no middlemen, no bank friction and with self-custody. They will try to convert everyday transactions into Bitcoin adoption. 

“We believe the most powerful onramp to Bitcoin isn’t an exchange — it’s people,” said the co-founder of Cowbolt Daniel Ekström. “That’s why we built Cowbolt. For friends, not hedge funds.”

What Cowbolt will bring to the table:

• Split and settle.
• Keep your keys.
• Fast and trusted.
• Works across borders.

The app is already being used for remittances, group travel, and day-to-day payments. It’s designed to be like a modern fintech app and will be available for iOS and Android. 

“Building Airbnb taught me that when design is simple and gets out of the way, people do amazing things,” stated the ex-Creative Director at Airbnb & co-founder Cowbolt Tony Högqvist. “That’s the point here too. Not to store bitcoin in an ETF, but to use it between people. Effortlessly. Among teams, friends, families — every day.”

This post Cowbolt Announces Their Mission to Make Bitcoin Familiar to Everybody first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Oscar Zarraga Perez.

@ 812cff5a:5c40aeeb

ميزة حسابات Nostr: حرية مطلقة دون تقديم معلومات شخصية

في عصرٍ تسيطر فيه شركات التكنولوجيا الكبرى على بيانات المستخدمين، تأتي شبكة Nostr كحل جذري يعيد للمستخدم السيطرة على هويته الرقمية. واحدة من أبرز ميزات Nostr هي القدرة على إنشاء عدد غير محدود من الحسابات، دون الحاجة لتقديم أي معلومات شخصية، مثل رقم الهاتف أو البريد الإلكتروني.

مفاتيح بدل الحسابات

في Nostr، لا يوجد مفهوم "الحساب" التقليدي. بدلاً من ذلك، يتم إنشاء هوية المستخدم عبر زوج من المفاتيح: مفتاح خاص (Private Key) ومفتاح عام (Public Key). المفتاح العام يُستخدم لتعريفك ونشر مشاركاتك، بينما المفتاح الخاص يُستخدم لتوقيع تلك المشاركات وإثبات ملكيتك لها.

قابلية التنقل بين التطبيقات

الميزة الكبرى في هذا النموذج هي أن هذه المفاتيح يمكن استخدامها في أي تطبيق Nostr. سواء كنت تستخدم تطبيق Damus، أو Amethyst، أو أي عميل آخر، يمكنك استخدام نفس المفتاح العام للوصول إلى هويتك، منشوراتك، وقائمة متابعيك، بدون الحاجة لإعادة تسجيل أو إعادة بناء ملفك الشخصي في كل تطبيق.

لا تسجيل دخول، لا مركزية

بخلاف الشبكات الاجتماعية التقليدية التي تعتمد على تسجيل الدخول المركزي وكلمة مرور، فإن Nostr مبني على بروتوكول لا مركزي لا يحتاج إلى خوادم مركزية أو عمليات تسجيل دخول. هذا يعني أنك تتحكم بالكامل في بياناتك، ولا يمكن لأي جهة منعك أو حذف حسابك.

المرونة والخصوصية

• يمكنك إنشاء عدة مفاتيح لهويات مختلفة، كل منها تمثل شخصية مختلفة أو اهتمامًا معينًا.
• لا أحد يستطيع ربط هذه الحسابات ببعض أو تتبعها إلا إذا قمت أنت بذلك.
• يمكنك التخلي عن مفتاح واستبداله بآخر متى شئت، بدون طلب إذن من أي منصة.

خاتمة

ما يميز Nostr حقًا ليس فقط حريته التقنية، بل فلسفته المبنية على الخصوصية والتمكين. هو ليس مجرد بديل لتويتر أو فيسبوك، بل هو إطار جديد للتواصل الاجتماعي حيث الهوية تنبع من المستخدم، لا من المنصة.

@ 39cc53c9:27168656

Read the original blog post

The new website is finally live! I put in a lot of hard work over the past months on it. I'm proud to say that it's out now and it looks pretty cool, at least to me!

Why rewrite it all?

The old kycnot.me site was built using Python with Flask about two years ago. Since then, I've gained a lot more experience with Golang and coding in general. Trying to update that old codebase, which had a lot of design flaws, would have been a bad idea. It would have been like building on an unstable foundation.

That's why I made the decision to rewrite the entire application. Initially, I chose to use SvelteKit with JavaScript. I did manage to create a stable site that looked similar to the new one, but it required Jav aScript to work. As I kept coding, I started feeling like I was repeating "the Python mistake". I was writing the app in a language I wasn't very familiar with (just like when I was learning Python at that mom ent), and I wasn't happy with the code. It felt like spaghetti code all the time.

So, I made a complete U-turn and started over, this time using Golang. While I'm not as proficient in Golang as I am in Python now, I find it to be a very enjoyable language to code with. Most aof my recent pr ojects have been written in Golang, and I'm getting the hang of it. I tried to make the best decisions I could and structure the code as well as possible. Of course, there's still room for improvement, which I'll address in future updates.

Now I have a more maintainable website that can scale much better. It uses a real database instead of a JSON file like the old site, and I can add many more features. Since I chose to go with Golang, I mad e the "tradeoff" of not using JavaScript at all, so all the rendering load falls on the server. But I believe it's a tradeoff that's worth it.

What's new

• UI/UX - I've designed a new logo and color palette for kycnot.me. I think it looks pretty cool and cypherpunk. I am not a graphic designer, but I think I did a decent work and I put a lot of thinking on it to make it pleasant!
• Point system - The new point system provides more detailed information about the listings, and can be expanded to cover additional features across all services. Anyone can request a new point!
• ToS Scrapper: I've implemented a powerful automated terms-of-service scrapper that collects all the ToS pages from the listings. It saves you from the hassle of reading the ToS by listing the lines that are suspiciously related to KYC/AML practices. This is still in development and it will improve for sure, but it works pretty fine right now!
• Search bar - The new search bar allows you to easily filter services. It performs a full-text search on the Title, Description, Category, and Tags of all the services. Looking for VPN services? Just search for "vpn"!
• Transparency - To be more transparent, all discussions about services now take place publicly on GitLab. I won't be answering any e-mails (an auto-reply will prompt to write to the corresponding Gitlab issue). This ensures that all service-related matters are publicly accessible and recorded. Additionally, there's a real-time audits page that displays database changes.
• Listing Requests - I have upgraded the request system. The new form allows you to directly request services or points without any extra steps. In the future, I plan to enable requests for specific changes to parts of the website.
• Lightweight and fast - The new site is lighter and faster than its predecessor!
• Tor and I2P - At last! kycnot.me is now officially on Tor and I2P!

How?

This rewrite has been a labor of love, in the end, I've been working on this for more than 3 months now. I don't have a team, so I work by myself on my free time, but I find great joy in helping people on their private journey with cryptocurrencies. Making it easier for individuals to use cryptocurrencies without KYC is a goal I am proud of!

If you appreciate my work, you can support me through the methods listed here. Alternatively, feel free to send me an email with a kind message!

Technical details

All the code is written in Golang, the website makes use of the chi router for the routing part. I also make use of BigCache for caching database requests. There is 0 JavaScript, so all the rendering load falls on the server, this means it needed to be efficient enough to not drawn with a few users since the old site was reporting about 2M requests per month on average (note that this are not unique users).

The database is running with mariadb, using gorm as the ORM. This is more than enough for this project. I started working with an sqlite database, but I ended up migrating to mariadb since it works better with JSON.

The scraper is using chromedp combined with a series of keywords, regex and other logic. It runs every 24h and scraps all the services. You can find the scraper code here.

The frontend is written using Golang Templates for the HTML, and TailwindCSS plus DaisyUI for the CSS classes framework. I also use some plain CSS, but it's minimal.

The requests forms is the only part of the project that requires JavaScript to be enabled. It is needed for parsing some from fields that are a bit complex and for the "captcha", which is a simple Proof of Work that runs on your browser, destinated to avoid spam. For this, I use mCaptcha.

@ 0fa80bd3:ea7325de

intro

The Russian state made me a Bitcoiner. In 1991, it devalued my grandmother's hard-earned savings. She worked tirelessly in the kitchen of a dining car on the Moscow–Warsaw route. Everything she had saved for my sister and me to attend university vanished overnight. This story is similar to what many experienced, including Wences Casares. The pain and injustice of that time became my first lessons about the fragility of systems and the value of genuine, incorruptible assets, forever changing my perception of money and my trust in government promises.

In 2014, I was living in Moscow, running a trading business, and frequently traveling to China. One day, I learned about the Cypriot banking crisis and the possibility of moving money through some strange thing called Bitcoin. At the time, I didn’t give it much thought. Returning to the idea six months later, as a business-oriented geek, I eagerly began studying the topic and soon dove into it seriously.

I spent half a year reading articles on a local online journal, BitNovosti, actively participating in discussions, and eventually joined the editorial team as a translator. That’s how I learned about whitepapers, decentralization, mining, cryptographic keys, and colored coins. About Satoshi Nakamoto, Silk Road, Mt. Gox, and BitcoinTalk. Over time, I befriended the journal’s owner and, leveraging my management experience, later became an editor. I was drawn to the crypto-anarchist stance and commitment to decentralization principles. We wrote about the economic, historical, and social preconditions for Bitcoin’s emergence, and it was during this time that I fully embraced the idea.

It got to the point where I sold my apartment and, during the market's downturn, bought 50 bitcoins, just after the peak price of $1,200 per coin. That marked the beginning of my first crypto winter. As an editor, I organized workflows, managed translators, developed a YouTube channel, and attended conferences in Russia and Ukraine. That’s how I learned about Wences Casares and even wrote a piece about him. I also met Mikhail Chobanyan (Ukrainian exchange Kuna), Alexander Ivanov (Waves project), Konstantin Lomashuk (Lido project), and, of course, Vitalik Buterin. It was a time of complete immersion, 24/7, and boundless hope.

After moving to the United States, I expected the industry to grow rapidly, attended events, but the introduction of BitLicense froze the industry for eight years. By 2017, it became clear that the industry was shifting toward gambling and creating tokens for the sake of tokens. I dismissed this idea as unsustainable. Then came a new crypto spring with the hype around beautiful NFTs – CryptoPunks and apes.

I made another attempt – we worked on a series called Digital Nomad Country Club, aimed at creating a global project. The proceeds from selling images were intended to fund the development of business tools for people worldwide. However, internal disagreements within the team prevented us from completing the project.

With Trump’s arrival in 2025, hope was reignited. I decided that it was time to create a project that society desperately needed. As someone passionate about history, I understood that destroying what exists was not the solution, but leaving everything as it was also felt unacceptable. You can’t destroy the system, as the fiery crypto-anarchist voices claimed.

With an analytical mindset (IQ 130) and a deep understanding of the freest societies, I realized what was missing—not only in Russia or the United States but globally—a Bitcoin-native system for tracking debts and financial interactions. This could return control of money to ordinary people and create horizontal connections parallel to state systems. My goal was to create, if not a Bitcoin killer app, then at least to lay its foundation.

At the inauguration event in New York, I rediscovered the Nostr project. I realized it was not only technologically simple and already quite popular but also perfectly aligned with my vision. For the past month and a half, using insights and experience gained since 2014, I’ve been working full-time on this project.

@ 39cc53c9:27168656

Read the original blog post

Know Your Customer is a regulation that requires companies of all sizes to verify the identity, suitability, and risks involved with maintaining a business relationship with a customer. Such procedures fit within the broader scope of anti-money laundering (AML) and counterterrorism financing (CTF) regulations.

Banks, exchanges, online business, mail providers, domain registrars... Everyone wants to know who you are before you can even opt for their service. Your personal information is flowing around the internet in the hands of "god-knows-who" and secured by "trust-me-bro military-grade encryption". Once your account is linked to your personal (and verified) identity, tracking you is just as easy as keeping logs on all these platforms.

Rights for Illusions

KYC processes aim to combat terrorist financing, money laundering, and other illicit activities. On the surface, KYC seems like a commendable initiative. I mean, who wouldn't want to halt terrorists and criminals in their tracks?

The logic behind KYC is: "If we mandate every financial service provider to identify their users, it becomes easier to pinpoint and apprehend the malicious actors."

However, terrorists and criminals are not precisely lining up to be identified. They're crafty. They may adopt false identities or find alternative strategies to continue their operations. Far from being outwitted, many times they're several steps ahead of regulations. Realistically, KYC might deter a small fraction – let's say about 1% ^1 – of these malefactors. Yet, the cost? All of us are saddled with the inconvenient process of identification just to use a service.

Under the rhetoric of "ensuring our safety", governments and institutions enact regulations that seem more out of a dystopian novel, gradually taking away our right to privacy.

To illustrate, consider a city where the mayor has rolled out facial recognition cameras in every nook and cranny. A band of criminals, intent on robbing a local store, rolls in with a stolen car, their faces obscured by masks and their bodies cloaked in all-black clothes. Once they've committed the crime and exited the city's boundaries, they switch vehicles and clothes out of the cameras' watchful eyes. The high-tech surveillance? It didn’t manage to identify or trace them. Yet, for every law-abiding citizen who merely wants to drive through the city or do some shopping, their movements and identities are constantly logged. The irony? This invasive tracking impacts all of us, just to catch the 1% ^1 of less-than-careful criminals.

KYC? Not you.

KYC creates barriers to participation in normal economic activity, to supposedly stop criminals. ^2

KYC puts barriers between many users and businesses. One of these comes from the fact that the process often requires multiple forms of identification, proof of address, and sometimes even financial records. For individuals in areas with poor record-keeping, non-recognized legal documents, or those who are unbanked, homeless or transient, obtaining these documents can be challenging, if not impossible.

For people who are not skilled with technology or just don't have access to it, there's also a barrier since KYC procedures are mostly online, leaving them inadvertently excluded.

Another barrier goes for the casual or one-time user, where they might not see the value in undergoing a rigorous KYC process, and these requirements can deter them from using the service altogether.

It also wipes some businesses out of the equation, since for smaller businesses, the costs associated with complying with KYC norms—from the actual process of gathering and submitting documents to potential delays in operations—can be prohibitive in economical and/or technical terms.

You're not welcome

Imagine a swanky new club in town with a strict "members only" sign. You hear the music, you see the lights, and you want in. You step up, ready to join, but suddenly there's a long list of criteria you must meet. After some time, you are finally checking all the boxes. But then the club rejects your membership with no clear reason why. You just weren't accepted. Frustrating, right?

This club scenario isn't too different from the fact that KYC is being used by many businesses as a convenient gatekeeping tool. A perfect excuse based on a "legal" procedure they are obliged to.

Even some exchanges may randomly use this to freeze and block funds from users, claiming these were "flagged" by a cryptic system that inspects the transactions. You are left hostage to their arbitrary decision to let you successfully pass the KYC procedure. If you choose to sidestep their invasive process, they might just hold onto your funds indefinitely.

Your identity has been stolen

KYC data has been found to be for sale on many dark net markets^3. Exchanges may have leaks or hacks, and such leaks contain very sensitive data. We're talking about the full monty: passport or ID scans, proof of address, and even those awkward selfies where you're holding up your ID next to your face. All this data is being left to the mercy of the (mostly) "trust-me-bro" security systems of such companies. Quite scary, isn't it?

As cheap as $10 for 100 documents, with discounts applying for those who buy in bulk, the personal identities of innocent users who passed KYC procedures are for sale. ^3

In short, if you have ever passed the KYC/AML process of a crypto exchange, your privacy is at risk of being compromised, or it might even have already been compromised.

(they) Know Your Coins

You may already know that Bitcoin and most cryptocurrencies have a transparent public blockchain, meaning that all data is shown unencrypted for everyone to see and recorded forever. If you link an address you own to your identity through KYC, for example, by sending an amount from a KYC exchange to it, your Bitcoin is no longer pseudonymous and can then be traced.

If, for instance, you send Bitcoin from such an identified address to another KYC'ed address (say, from a friend), everyone having access to that address-identity link information (exchanges, governments, hackers, etc.) will be able to associate that transaction and know who you are transacting with.

Conclusions

To sum up, KYC does not protect individuals; rather, it's a threat to our privacy, freedom, security and integrity. Sensible information flowing through the internet is thrown into chaos by dubious security measures. It puts borders between many potential customers and businesses, and it helps governments and companies track innocent users. That's the chaos KYC has stirred.

The criminals are using stolen identities from companies that gathered them thanks to these very same regulations that were supposed to combat them. Criminals always know how to circumvent such regulations. In the end, normal people are the most affected by these policies.

The threat that KYC poses to individuals in terms of privacy, security and freedom is not to be neglected. And if we don’t start challenging these systems and questioning their efficacy, we are just one step closer to the dystopian future that is now foreseeable.

Edited 20/03/2024 * Add reference to the 1% statement on Rights for Illusions section to an article where Chainalysis found that only 0.34% of the transaction volume with cryptocurrencies in 2023 was attributable to criminal activity ^1

@ b7274d28:c99628cb

In this second installment of The Android Elite Setup tutorial series, we will cover installing the nostr:npub10r8xl2njyepcw2zwv3a6dyufj4e4ajx86hz6v4ehu4gnpupxxp7stjt2p8 on your #Android device and browsing for apps you may be interested in trying out.

Since the #Zapstore is a direct competitor to the Google Play Store, you're not going to be able to find and install it from there like you may be used to with other apps. Instead, you will need to install it directly from the developer's GitHub page. This is not a complicated process, but it is outside the normal flow of searching on the Play Store, tapping install, and you're done.

Installation

From any web browser on your Android phone, navigate to the Zapstore GitHub Releases page and the most recent version will be listed at the top of the page. The .apk file for you to download and install will be listed in the "Assets."

Tap the .apk to download it, and you should get a notification when the download has completed, with a prompt to open the file.

You will likely be presented with a prompt warning you that your phone currently isn't allowed to install applications from "unknown sources." Anywhere other than the Play Store is considered an "unknown source" by default. However, you can manually allow installation from unknown sources in the settings, which the prompt gives you the option to do.

In the settings page that opens, toggle it to allow installation from this source, and you should be prompted to install the application. If you aren't, simply go to your web browser's downloads and tap on the .apk file again, or go into your file browser app and you should find the .apk in your Downloads folder.

If the application doesn't open automatically after install, you will find it in your app drawer.

Home Page

Right at the top of the home page in the Zapstore is the search bar. You can use it to find a specific app you know is available in the Zapstore.

There are quite a lot of open source apps available, and more being added all the time. Most are added by the Zapstore developer, nostr:npub1wf4pufsucer5va8g9p0rj5dnhvfeh6d8w0g6eayaep5dhps6rsgs43dgh9, but some are added by the app developers themselves, especially Nostr apps. All of the applications we will be installing through the Zapstore have been added by their developers and are cryptographically signed, so you know that what you download is what the developer actually released.

The next section is for app discovery. There are curated app collections to peruse for ideas about what you may want to install. As you can see, all of the other apps we will be installing are listed in nostr:npub1wf4pufsucer5va8g9p0rj5dnhvfeh6d8w0g6eayaep5dhps6rsgs43dgh9's "Nostr" collection.

In future releases of the Zapstore, users will be able to create their own app collections.

The last section of the home page is a chronological list of the latest releases. This includes both new apps added to the Zapstore and recently updated apps. The list of recent releases on its own can be a great resource for discovering apps you may not have heard of before.

Installed Apps

The next page of the app, accessed by the icon in the bottom-center of the screen that looks like a clock with an arrow circling it, shows all apps you have installed that are available in the Zapstore. It's also where you will find apps you have previously installed that are ready to be updated. This page is pretty sparse on my test profile, since I only have the Zapstore itself installed, so here is a look at it on my main profile:

The "Disabled Apps" at the top are usually applications that were installed via the Play Store or some other means, but are also available in the Zapstore. You may be surprised to see that some of the apps you already have installed on your device are also available on the Zapstore. However, to manage their updates though the Zapstore, you would need to uninstall the app and reinstall it from the Zapstore instead. I only recommend doing this for applications that are added to the Zapstore by their developers, or you may encounter a significant delay between a new update being released for the app and when that update is available on the Zapstore.

Tap on one of your apps in the list to see whether the app is added by the developer, or by the Zapstore. This takes you to the application's page, and you may see a warning at the top if the app was not installed through the Zapstore.

Scroll down the page a bit and you will see who signed the release that is available on the Zapstore.

In the case of Primal, even though the developer is on Nostr, they are not signing their own releases to the Zapstore yet. This means there will likely be a delay between Primal releasing an update and that update being available on the Zapstore.

Settings

The last page of the app is the settings page, found by tapping the cog at the bottom right.

Here you can send the Zapstore developer feedback directly (if you are logged in), connect a Lightning wallet using Nostr Wallet Connect, delete your local cache, and view some system information.

We will be adding a connection to our nostr:npub1h2qfjpnxau9k7ja9qkf50043xfpfy8j5v60xsqryef64y44puwnq28w8ch wallet in part 5 of this tutorial series.

For the time being, we are all set with the Zapstore and ready for the next stage of our journey.

Continue to Part 3: Amber Signer. Nostr link: nostr:naddr1qqxnzde5xuengdeexcmnvv3eqgstwf6d9r37nqalwgxmfd9p9gclt3l0yc3jp5zuyhkfqjy6extz3jcrqsqqqa28qy2hwumn8ghj7un9d3shjtnyv9kh2uewd9hj7qg6waehxw309aex2mrp0yhxyunfva58gcn0d36zumn9wss80nug

@ daa41bed:88f54153

There has been a good bit of discussion on Nostr over the past few days about the merits of zaps as a method of engaging with notes, so after writing a rather lengthy article on the pros of a strategic Bitcoin reserve, I wanted to take some time to chime in on the much more fun topic of digital engagement.

Let's begin by defining a couple of things:

Nostr is a decentralized, censorship-resistance protocol whose current biggest use case is social media (think Twitter/X). Instead of relying on company servers, it relies on relays that anyone can spin up and own their own content. Its use cases are much bigger, though, and this article is hosted on my own relay, using my own Nostr relay as an example.

Zap is a tip or donation denominated in sats (small units of Bitcoin) sent from one user to another. This is generally done directly over the Lightning Network but is increasingly using Cashu tokens. For the sake of this discussion, how you transmit/receive zaps will be irrelevant, so don't worry if you don't know what Lightning or Cashu are.

If we look at how users engage with posts and follows/followers on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, etc., it becomes evident that traditional social media thrives on engagement farming. The more outrageous a post, the more likely it will get a reaction. We see a version of this on more visual social platforms like YouTube and TikTok that use carefully crafted thumbnail images to grab the user's attention to click the video. If you'd like to dive deep into the psychology and science behind social media engagement, let me know, and I'd be happy to follow up with another article.

In this user engagement model, a user is given the option to comment or like the original post, or share it among their followers to increase its signal. They receive no value from engaging with the content aside from the dopamine hit of the original experience or having their comment liked back by whatever influencer they provide value to. Ad revenue flows to the content creator. Clout flows to the content creator. Sales revenue from merch and content placement flows to the content creator. We call this a linear economy -- the idea that resources get created, used up, then thrown away. Users create content and farm as much engagement as possible, then the content is forgotten within a few hours as they move on to the next piece of content to be farmed.

What if there were a simple way to give value back to those who engage with your content? By implementing some value-for-value model -- a circular economy. Enter zaps.

Unlike traditional social media platforms, Nostr does not actively use algorithms to determine what content is popular, nor does it push content created for active user engagement to the top of a user's timeline. Yes, there are "trending" and "most zapped" timelines that users can choose to use as their default, but these use relatively straightforward engagement metrics to rank posts for these timelines.

That is not to say that we may not see clients actively seeking to refine timeline algorithms for specific metrics. Still, the beauty of having an open protocol with media that is controlled solely by its users is that users who begin to see their timeline gamed towards specific algorithms can choose to move to another client, and for those who are more tech-savvy, they can opt to run their own relays or create their own clients with personalized algorithms and web of trust scoring systems.

Zaps enable the means to create a new type of social media economy in which creators can earn for creating content and users can earn by actively engaging with it. Like and reposting content is relatively frictionless and costs nothing but a simple button tap. Zaps provide active engagement because they signal to your followers and those of the content creator that this post has genuine value, quite literally in the form of money—sats.

I have seen some comments on Nostr claiming that removing likes and reactions is for wealthy people who can afford to send zaps and that the majority of people in the US and around the world do not have the time or money to zap because they have better things to spend their money like feeding their families and paying their bills. While at face value, these may seem like valid arguments, they, unfortunately, represent the brainwashed, defeatist attitude that our current economic (and, by extension, social media) systems aim to instill in all of us to continue extracting value from our lives.

Imagine now, if those people dedicating their own time (time = money) to mine pity points on social media would instead spend that time with genuine value creation by posting content that is meaningful to cultural discussions. Imagine if, instead of complaining that their posts get no zaps and going on a tirade about how much of a victim they are, they would empower themselves to take control of their content and give value back to the world; where would that leave us? How much value could be created on a nascent platform such as Nostr, and how quickly could it overtake other platforms?

Other users argue about user experience and that additional friction (i.e., zaps) leads to lower engagement, as proven by decades of studies on user interaction. While the added friction may turn some users away, does that necessarily provide less value? I argue quite the opposite. You haven't made a few sats from zaps with your content? Can't afford to send some sats to a wallet for zapping? How about using the most excellent available resource and spending 10 seconds of your time to leave a comment? Likes and reactions are valueless transactions. Social media's real value derives from providing monetary compensation and actively engaging in a conversation with posts you find interesting or thought-provoking. Remember when humans thrived on conversation and discussion for entertainment instead of simply being an onlooker of someone else's life?

If you've made it this far, my only request is this: try only zapping and commenting as a method of engagement for two weeks. Sure, you may end up liking a post here and there, but be more mindful of how you interact with the world and break yourself from blind instinct. You'll thank me later.

@ a4992688:88fd660f

Retail Isn't Coming Back

(and they might be gone for good)

Written by nostr:nprofile1qqs2fxfx3z6yns4a6mafcwdgsrtluf747h37nl2vglt9mqj93r7kvrcwm69jy

It's been just a matter of days since Bitcoin has broken a new all-time high in US dollars and yet, things are extremely quiet on the ground level... Your friends aren't texting to find out if now is a good time to buy, the normies at work haven't brought it up to you, and Coinbase isn't even in the top 100 overall apps in the Google Play App Store. As of now, it sits at #164.

In fact, according to Google search trends, worldwide interest in Bitcoin is lower today while setting new all-time highs above $110,000 than it was at the pits of the 2022 bear market when FTX was blowing up and Bitcoin crashed to below $16,000.

the mempool also paints a quiet picture. It’s mostly empty. Just a few blocks’ worth of transactions waiting to confirm, most paying 1–4 sats/vB. In fact, over the last 144 blocks (about 24 hours), the average fee per transaction has hovered below 1,500 sats, roughly $1.50.

This is far from the behavior found on-chain during previous all-time highs. It reflects an underutilized network predominantly being used by its original power users. Meanwhile, the hash rate climbs relentlessly, month after month, setting record after record. Miners are expending more energy than ever, but fee pressure is nowhere to be found.

🕵️‍♂️ Is Retail In The Room with Us Now?

The typical signs of retail investor enthusiasm, such as increased Google searches, higher Coinbase app downloads, and a congested mempool all remain subdued. This raises the question: Is the current rally predominantly driven by institutional investors, with retail participation lagging behind?

Since the approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs in January 2024, these financial instruments have accumulated nearly 1.21 million bitcoin, with total assets under management exceeding $132 billion (or, 5.75%+ of 21M total BTC). Initially, retail investors were the primary contributors to these inflows, accounting for approximately 80% of the total assets under management as of October 2024. However, more recent trends indicate a shift, with institutional investors, including hedge funds and asset managers, increasing their stakes in Bitcoin ETFs.

Institutional exposure more than doubled from Q3 to Q4 of 2024 according to SEC 13-F filings, whereas assets under management for all non-institutional ETF holders grew by 62%. While retail is responsible for approximately 73.7% of AUM in the ETFs, a small number of institutions represent more than a 26% of the ETF inflows as of the end of 2024.

🥴 PTSD - Portfolio Trauma & Speculative Disillusionment

For many retail investors, the scars from the 2021–2022 crypto cycle run deep. They bought into the hype near Bitcoin's previous all-time high of $69,000, only to watch their investments plummet to $15,000. The collapse of major platforms like Terra, Celsius, and FTX didn't just erase wealth—it shattered trust.

This collective trauma has left many retail investors wary. They've seen the cycle before: rapid gains followed by devastating losses. The excitement that once drew them into the market has been replaced by caution and skepticism. Even as Bitcoin reaches new heights, the enthusiasm that characterized previous bull runs is noticeably absent.

By all measurable metrics, retail investors appear increasingly reluctant to step outside the comfort of traditional financial rails to gain Bitcoin exposure. In response to past losses and a heightened desire for security, many are now turning to regulated investment vehicles like spot Bitcoin ETFs, offered by institutions such as BlackRock and Fidelity. These products provide a familiar, low-friction on-ramp by eliminating the need for self-custody, avoiding the risks of phishing and exchange hacks, and sidestepping the complexities of managing wallets or navigating volatile crypto platforms. This behavioral shift helps explain why we’re not seeing a surge in mempool congestion, on-chain activity, or crypto exchange downloads. Retail isn’t gone per se... they are however predominantly choosing to interact with Bitcoin from a "safe" distance, inside the walled garden of TradFi.

🧙‍♂️ Pay No Attention to the Custodian Behind the Curtain

Retail might look like it's back, but it isn't. Not really. They've been rerouted. Herded away from the open network and into the controlled comfort of traditional finance, where Bitcoin is boxed up, regulated, and sold as a familiar financial product.

Spot ETFs from firms like BlackRock offer the illusion of exposure without any of the responsibility or freedom that comes with actually owning Bitcoin. There are no private keys, no ability to withdraw, no direct access to the asset. Most of the Bitcoin that backs those shares sits in Coinbase Custody, inaccessible from the investor’s point of view. Retail can watch the price move, but they can't move a single sat.

They can't send it to family. They can't use Lightning. They can't participate in a fork or vote with their coins. Their holdings are locked inside a financial product, subject to tax surveillance and government oversight, with none of the borderless, censorship-resistant qualities that make Bitcoin what it is.

This isn’t Bitcoin as a tool for sovereignty. It’s Bitcoin as a stock proxy, tucked neatly into retirement accounts and brokerage dashboards. Retail hasn't returned to Bitcoin. They've returned to a synthetic version of it. One that looks clean, feels safe, and doesn’t ask them to think too hard.

The crowd is back, but not on the chain. They've returned to price, not protocol.

🔍Missing: Retail. Last Seen 2021.

If this bull run feels quieter than the last one, it’s because it is. Retail investors, once the lifeblood of Bitcoin mania, are largely absent from the on-chain activity. Their presence isn’t being felt where it used to be.

The reasons are stacking up. Regulatory pressure has increased globally, with new tax reporting rules, stricter KYC requirements, and fewer accessible exchanges making direct participation more frustrating than exciting. At the same time, the opportunity cost has shifted. T-bills are yielding 5 percent, and the stock market is deep in an AI-driven rally that feels new and full of upside. Compared to that, Bitcoin’s core narratives like digital gold or inflation protection no longer feel urgent or unique.

Institutions are now leading through ETFs and futures, smoothing out volatility and removing many of the sudden moves that once drew in retail traders. On-chain user experience still falls behind modern apps, Lightning remains niche, and energy concerns continue to shape public perception. More importantly, the cost of everyday life has gone up. Rent is up. Groceries are expensive. People are stretched thin. Student loans have resumed and homeownership is out of reach for many.

Until those conditions shift, retail is unlikely to return in any meaningful way. It is not that they have given up on Bitcoin. They are simply trying to keep up with everything else.

The chart below illustrates that the number of active Bitcoin addresses has declined by approximately 42% since its peak in 2021.

🧲 What Pulls Them Back In?

Retail hasn’t disappeared. It’s just not on-chain. They’re watching the charts, buying the proxies, and dipping into Bitcoin exposure through familiar vehicles like ETFs and high-beta stocks. MSTR, MSTY, SQ, MARA, and RIOT have become stand-ins for the real thing. For many, that feels close enough. They haven’t sworn off Bitcoin entirely, but they also haven’t found a reason to return to the protocol itself. Price alone isn’t doing it. If Bitcoin is going to recapture retail attention on-chain, it needs more than speculation. It needs to be usable, intuitive, and culturally relevant. Until then, the crowd will stay inside the walled garden, content with price exposure. The question now is what pulls them back into the open network.

🛠️ Make it Frictionless, or Forget it

Retail won’t return until exploring Bitcoin feels rewarding, not risky. Right now, engaging directly with the network still feels technical, intimidating, and easy to get wrong. The average person doesn’t want to learn about seed phrases, fee markets, or signing messages. They just want it to work, and ideally in one tap.

Self-custody, while powerful, still comes with a learning curve that scares most users off. One typo can lose everything. One phishing link can wipe a life’s savings. When compared to the ease of buying a Bitcoin ETF inside a brokerage app, it becomes obvious why most people choose comfort over control.

Lightning wallets have improved, but mainstream usability is still far off. Many users struggle with basic concepts like payment channels and inbound liquidity. App store reviews often reflect confusion and frustration. More importantly, Lightning still raises serious questions in a high-fee environment. Opening or closing a channel can become expensive when the base layer gets congested. This undermines Lightning’s value as a low-cost, instant settlement layer. If fees are unpredictable, it becomes harder to trust that Lightning will be there when users actually need it.

Apps like Nostr are beginning to pave the way with native Lightning features like zaps, where users can send sats as tips or signals within a social feed. It’s the kind of simple, purpose-driven interaction that could eventually normalize Lightning in everyday use. But for now, it remains niche, with limited reach beyond early adopters and Bitcoin-native circles. The pieces are falling into place, but mainstream readiness is still a long way off.

To pull retail back in, Bitcoin has to compete on usability, not just principle. That means seedless recovery. Wallets that back up automatically. Tap-to-pay Lightning. Default privacy. Smarter fee estimation. The average user should not have to study Bitcoin to use it, just like they don’t need to understand TCP/IP to send an email.

Until the experience becomes effortless, Bitcoin on-chain will remain the domain of power users and diehards. Everyone else will keep choosing exposure over participation, because for now, the friction outweighs the freedom.

🔥 Give Them a Reason to Care Again

Speculation brought retail in. Survival might bring them back. But between those extremes, there needs to be a reason to engage that feels meaningful in everyday life. For most people, Bitcoin still doesn’t offer that. It’s not woven into anything they do. It’s not a tool they reach for. It’s just a number in a ticker—or now, in an ETF.

The core narratives that once drove adoption have lost their urgency. “Digital gold” sounds more like a sales pitch than a breakthrough. “Inflation hedge” didn’t hold up during inflation. “Opt out of the banking system” is hard to relate to when your paycheck hits a checking account and your bills are on autopay. These messages worked when people were curious or scared. But in a world focused on AI, passive income, and stable yields, Bitcoin feels like a cold, hard asset with no warm story.

Retail doesn’t just need new slogans. They need a new reason. A killer app. A cultural hook. Something that connects the protocol to their daily life. That could come from anywhere—remittances, peer-to-peer media, AI payments, creator tools, censorship resistance, even gaming. We’re starting to see glimpses. Nostr’s Lightning zaps, for example, show how sats could flow through social interactions. It's lightweight, casual, and fits into habits people already have. But even that is still early and relatively isolated from the mainstream.

Of course, it’s possible that price alone brings them back. A violent move toward $200,000 or higher could generate headlines, social buzz, and another wave of opportunistic buying. But even in that scenario, most people still won't touch the protocol. They’ll chase exposure, not interaction. They’ll buy tickers, not UTXOs.

Retail will come back when Bitcoin stops being an idea they watch and starts being a tool they use. Until then, attention might spike, but engagement will remain shallow.

🏠 Bitcoin Needs a Homebase

Bitcoin is everywhere, but it feels like it’s nowhere. There's no single place where the culture lives. No town square. No digital front porch where holders, builders, speculators, artists, and newcomers all cross paths. And that absence is being felt.

In past cycles, Twitter served as a kind of home for Bitcoin discussion. But now the conversation is fractured. Memes, developer talk, Lightning experiments, and exchange drama are scattered across Telegram groups, Nostr relays, GitHub repos, Reddit threads, and gated newsletters. There’s no central venue that brings it all together. What once felt like a movement now feels more like a loose network of subcultures.

This isn’t just a cultural gap. It’s a usability gap. Without a shared space or interface, discovering Bitcoin's tools, communities, or use cases becomes a fragmented and overwhelming experience. For newcomers especially, it turns exploration into a scavenger hunt. There’s no hub where someone can casually browse peer-to-peer markets, tip someone over Lightning, try a game, test a wallet, or ask basic questions without feeling out of place.

Importantly, this homebase shouldn’t be a corporate platform or single point of failure. It should reflect the values of the network itself—open, decentralized, secure, and resistant to censorship. A sovereign space, not another walled garden. Something that anyone can plug into, build on top of, or access freely without needing permission or credentials. Not a headquarters, but a commons.

Bitcoin doesn’t need a leader, but it could use a center of gravity. A place where its many threads can be visible, accessible, and in conversation with each other. Until it feels like something you can step into, most people won’t feel like they’re truly part of it.

🧵 Final Thoughts

Retail didn’t disappear. It checked out. After wild volatility, failed platforms, and busted narratives, most people aren't rushing back into the Bitcoin Network as we know it. They’ve opted for safety. For simplicity. For familiar rails like ETFs, proxy stocks, and apps that feel intuitive and risk-free.

Bitcoin, meanwhile, has matured in price but not necessarily in presence. The protocol is stronger than ever, but the culture feels scattered. The use cases feel theoretical. The experience still feels fragile. And for most, that's just not enough.

Maybe retail comes back with the next crisis. Maybe it takes a breakout product. Or maybe it doesn’t happen for years. No one knows what the catalyst will be, or if there even has to be one. But what’s clear is that Bitcoin’s next chapter won’t be won by price alone. It will be shaped by the tools we build, the stories we tell, and the places we create for people to show up.

One thing I know for sure: if retail returns, it won’t be for long unless we’ve built something that gives them a real reason to stay.

---

@ 26769dac:498e333b

I am here too\ In the same space like you

In the same situation I'm in\ It's a matter of positioning

I cannot leave this place I'm in\ It was brought about\ By what's been happening

So please don't look at me\ For what I can or cannot do for you\ But look at what is happening for me\ And what is happening for you

Let's communicate\ Not orchestrate

Because there's something I wish to do\ And there's a place I wish to go to

And I'm sure that there is too\ In your heart a fire\ Known by only you

So let us listen, look and see\ For what's true for you\ And what's true for me

That we may act upon what's here\ In order for us both to take a step\ In the direction we wish to steer

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

White House Executive Director Bo Hines Declares U.S. The Future Global Crypto Superpower

In a session at the Bitcoin 2025 Conference this morning titled “_Making America the Global Bitcoin Superpower“_, Bo Hines, White House Executive Director, Tyler Williams, from the US Treasury Department, and moderator Miles Jennings made one thing clear: the United States is going all-in on Bitcoin—and fast. 

JUST IN: President Trump's Executive Director said "Bitcoin is the golden standard."

"We're not gonna sell any Bitcoin that we possible have in the US government, period." pic.twitter.com/F6Dv2nUk9b

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) May 27, 2025

“We are well on our way to becoming the bitcoin superpower of the world,” said Bo Hines. “This is something that is not partisan. This is a revolution in our financial system.” 

Moderator Miles Jennings pointed to key regulatory steps currently in motion. “If the bill becomes law (and I hope it does) we will have quite an active role. The connective tissue between the legacy financial system and bitcoin, stablecoins, and everything else will really be paved with stablecoin legislation,” Jennings said.

Hines emphasized that, “Updating the payment rails is necessary and we are well on our way to achieving that.” He also noted that upcoming market structure legislation will define how intermediaries like exchanges and brokers are regulated and how digital assets are classified—either as securities or commodities. 

“We want folks to innovate here,” Hines stressed. “We can’t be fearful of them walking into the SEC and getting a Wells notice before they get on the elevator.” He added that U.S. regulators are now encouraging crypto innovators to return: “Our message to folks who have gone offshore is: welcome home_._” 

Williams highlighted that any new laws must reflect the unique architecture of decentralized finance. “Traditional markets are based on a principal-agent model,” he explained. “But crypto moves us toward a principal-to-principal structure.”

He noted that after regulatory support for the ETP marketplace, institutional Bitcoin adoption surged—and believes the same would happen again under stablecoin and market structure legislation. 

The most bullish comment of the morning came from Hines: “Bitcoin is truly the golden standard… This is an asset that we should be harnessing on behalf of the American people. We want as much as we can possibly get.” 

“We are going big on digital assets,” added Tyler. “You will certainly see the United States stepping out as the bitcoin superpower of the world,” Hines concluded. 

You can watch the full panel discussion and the rest of the Bitcoin 2025 Conference Industry Day below:
https://www.youtube.com/live/3e3KE40r_WM?si=LCZcZeKbxi_iTk62

This post White House Executive Director Bo Hines Declares U.S. The Future Global Crypto Superpower first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Jenna Montgomery.

@ 39cc53c9:27168656

Read the original blog post

Over the past few months, I've dedicated my time to a complete rewrite of the kycnot.me website. The technology stack remains unchanged; Golang paired with TailwindCSS. However, I've made some design choices in this iteration that I believe significantly enhance the site. Particularly to backend code.

UI Improvements

You'll notice a refreshed UI that retains the original concept but has some notable enhancements. The service list view is now more visually engaging, it displays additional information in a more aesthetically pleasing manner. Both filtering and searching functionalities have been optimized for speed and user experience.

Service pages have been also redesigned to highlight key information at the top, with the KYC Level box always accessible. The display of service attributes is now more visually intuitive.

The request form, especially the Captcha, has undergone substantial improvements. The new self-made Captcha is robust, addressing the reliability issues encountered with the previous version.

Terms of Service Summarizer

A significant upgrade is the Terms of Service summarizer/reviewer, now powered by AI (GPT-4-turbo). It efficiently condenses each service's ToS, extracting and presenting critical points, including any warnings. Summaries are updated monthly, processing over 40 ToS pages via the OpenAI API using a self-crafted and thoroughly tested prompt.

Nostr Comments

I've integrated a comment section for each service using Nostr. For guidance on using this feature, visit the dedicated how-to page.

Database

The backend database has transitioned to pocketbase, an open-source Golang backend that has been a pleasure to work with. I maintain an updated fork of the Golang SDK for pocketbase at pluja/pocketbase.

Scoring

The scoring algorithm has also been refined to be more fair. Despite I had considered its removal due to the complexity it adds (it is very difficult to design a fair scoring system), some users highlighted its value, so I kept it. The updated algorithm is available open source.

Listings

Each listing has been re-evaluated, and the ones that were no longer operational were removed. New additions are included, and the backlog of pending services will be addressed progressively, since I still have access to the old database.

API

The API now offers more comprehensive data. For more details, check here.

About Page

The About page has been restructured for brevity and clarity.

Other Changes

Extensive changes have been implemented in the server-side logic, since the whole code base was re-written from the ground up. I may discuss these in a future post, but for now, I consider the current version to be just a bit beyond beta, and additional updates are planned in the coming weeks.

@ 491afeba:8b64834e

Quando adolescente eu acreditava na coerência da teoria de "amor líquido" do polonês, sociólogo, Zygmunt Bauman, apresentada no livro "Amor Líquido: Sobre a Fragilidade dos Laços Humanos", qual no meu amadurecimento em estudos, sejam eles no meio acadêmico ou fora, percebo como uma das formas mais rasas de explicar as mudanças e transformações dos padrões de relações sócio-afetivas dos humanos. A seguir colocar-me-ei na minha juventude não tanto recente, direi então que nós, se adolescentes e conservadores, ou mesmo jovens adultos mais conservadores, costumamos levar como dogma uma óptica decadentista generalizada de todos os avanços de eras dos homens, universalizamos por nos ser comum a indistinção entre humanidade e humanidades, ou mesmo "humanity" e "humankind" ("humanidade" como espécime e "humanidade" como um universal), compreendemos toda "essas" como "essa" e indistinguimos as sociedades para com os homens, ou seja, a incapacidade de definir os seres dentro de suas respectivas singularidades e especificidades nos leva ao decadentismo generalista (a crença de que de forma geral, e universal, a "civilização universal" decai moralmente, éticamente, materialmente e espiritualmente), que aparente à nós determinadas mudanças nas relações humanas quanto ao caráter sócio-afetivo, por falta de profundidade e critérios ainda sobre questões alinhadas aos métodos e coerências, ou incoerências, lógicas, nós se jovens e conservadores somos levados ao engodo de concordar com a teoria do amor líquido de Bauman, que devo cá explicar de antemão: trata ela, a teoria, o padrão de "amor" dos tempos presentes como frágil, de prazo (curto e médio) e diferente em grau comparativamente ao amor comum das eras passadas.

Aos jovens mais progressistas opera uma compreensão dialética sobre as eras dos homens nos seu tempo presente, na qual ao tempo que o ser progride ele também regride simultaneamente, ou seja, a medida que aparecem contradições advindas de transformações materiais da realidade humana o ser supera essas contradições e progride em meio as transformações, ainda fazendo parte da lógica dessa indissociavelmente, assim constantemente progredindo e regredindo, havendo para esses dois vetores de distinção: o primeiro é o que releva questões espirituais como ao caráter do pensamento "new age", o segundo ignora essas questões por negar a existência da alma, seguem ao materialismo. Cedem em crer na teoria baumaninana como dogma, pois não encontram outros meios para explicar as transformações da sociedade na esfera sócio-afetiva sem que haja confrontamento direto com determinadas premissas assim pertinemente presentes, ou por não conciliarem com análises relativamente superiores, como a de Anthony Giddens sobre a "relação pura" em "A Transformação da Intimidade" e de François de Singly apresentada em "Sociologie du Couple".

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/6f/b4/9e/6fb49eda2c8cf6dc837a0abfc7e108e6.jpg

Há um problema quando uma teoria deixa de assim ser para vir a tornar-se mais um elemento desconexo da ciência, agora dentro da cultura pop, se assim podemos dizer, ou da cultura de massa, ou se preferirem mesmo "anticultura", esse problema é a sua deformização teórica, tornando-se essa rasa para sua palatabilidade massiva, somada a incapacidade de partes da sociedade civil em compreender as falhas daquilo que já foi massificado. Tive surpresa ao entender que muitos outros compartilham da mesma opinião, a exemplo, possuo um amigo na faculdade, marxista, que ao falarmos sobre nossos projetos de pesquisa, citou ele o projeto de um de nossos colegas, no qual esse referido um de nossos colegas faria seu projeto com base na teoria do amor líquido de Bauman, então alí demos risada disso, ora, para nós a teoria baumaniana é furada, passamos a falar sobre Bauman e o motivo pelo qual não gostávamos, lá fiquei até surpreso em saber que mais gente além de mim não gostava da teoria de Bauman, pois ao que eu via na internet era rede de enaltecimentos à figura e à sua teoria, tal como fosse uma revelação partindo de alguma divindade da Idade do Bronze. Pouco tempo depois tive em aula de teoria política uma citação de Bauman partindo do professor que ministrava a disciplina, no entanto, ao citar o nome de Bauman o mesmo fez uma feição na qual aparentava segurar risada, provavelmente ele também não levava Bauman à sério. Não devo negar que todas as vezes que vejo o sociólogo sendo citado em alguma nota no X, no Instagram ou qualquer outra rede social, tal como fosse um referencial teórico bom, sinto uma vergonha alheia pois alí tenho uma impressão de que a pessoa não leu Bauman e usa o referencial teórico como um fato já assim provado e comprovado.

Há pontos positivos na teoria baumaniana, como a capacidade de perceber o problema e correlacioná-lo à modernidade, assim como sucitar a influência do que há de material no fenômeno, porém os erros são pertinentes: o primeiro problema é de categoria. Não há, por parte de Bauman noção alguma entre as dissociações dos amores, não há atenção sobre o amor como estrutura ou ele como um sentimento, todo ele é compreendido uniformemente como "amor", partindo do pressuposto que todas as relações, todas elas, são firmadas com base no amor. Essa crença tem uma origem: Hegel. Nos Escritos Teológicos Hegel partia da crença que o amor ligava os seres relacionalmente como uma força de superação e alienação, mas há de compreendermos que esse Friedrich Hegel é o jovem ainda pouco maduro em suas ideias e seu sistema de pensamento, mais a frente, em "Fenomenologia do Espírito e na Filosofia do Direito", Hegel compreende a institucionalidade do direito no amor e a institucionalização dessa força, assim aproxima-se da realidade a respeito da inserção do amor nas esferas práticas do humano, porém essa ideia, apesar de imperfeita, pois ao que sabemos não é o amor que consolida a relação, mas sim a Verdade (Alétheia), conforme apontado por Heidegger em "Ser e Tempo", essa ideia do amor como a fundamento das relações humanas influenciou, e até hoje influencia, qualquer análise sobre as relações humanas fora da esfera materialista, fora dessa pois, melhormente explicado em exemplo, os marxistas (em exemplo), assim como Marx, consideram como base primordial das relações as condições materiais.

Por certo, não é de todo amor a base para a solidificação, ora, erram aqueles que creem que somente essa força, assim apontada por Hegel, constituiam todos os relacionamentos formais como pilares fundamentais, pois em prática as famílias eram até a fiduciarização dessas, por mais paradoxal que seja, compreendidas melhor como instituições orgânicas de caráter legal do que conluios de afetividades. A família outrora tinha consigo aparelhos de hierarquia bem estabelicidos, quais prezavam pela ordem interna e externa, que acima dessa instituição estava somente a Igreja (outra instituição), com sua fiduciarização [da família] após o movimento tomado pelos Estados nacionais em aplicação do casamento civil mudou-se a lógica das partes que a compõe, findou-se o princípio da subsidiariedade (não intervenção de determinadas instituições nas decisões quais podem ser exercidas em resuluções de problemas nas competências de quaisquer instituições), foi-se então, contudo, também a autoridade, e nisso revela-se um outro problema não apontado na teoria de Bauman: qual o padrão do amor "sólido"? Pois, ora, sociedades tradicionais não abdicavam do relevar dos amores para tornar seus filhos em ativos nas práticas de trocas (dádivas)? É notório que esse padrão se dissocia do padrão de sentimento apontado por Bauman, encontramos esse fato em estudo nos trabalhos "Ensaio Sobre a Dádiva", do Marcel Mauss, e "As Estruturas Elementares do Parentesco", do Claude Levi-Strauss, quais expõem que nas sociedades "sólidas", tradicionais, relevava-se mais questões institucionais que as sentimentais para a formação de laços (teoria da aliança). Muitas das relações passadas não eram baseadas no amor, não significando assim que as de hoje, em oposição, sejam, mas que permanecem-se semelhantes em base, diferentemente em grau e forma.

https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F748b94c3-f882-45db-8333-09260ef15cfe_615x413.jpeg

Ora, ainda existem casamentos motivados pela política, pelo status, pelo prestígio, pelos bens, pelo poder, pela influência familiar e assim sucetivamente, tal como no passado, ocorre que essa prática tornou-se oculta, não mais explícita e aparente, devo dizer ainda que em partes, pois prepondera em nosso tempo uma epidemia de adultérios, fornicações, práticas lascivas e demais práticas libertinosas explicitamente, em contraposição às práticas ocultas em vergonhas de sociedades sem declínio moral e espiritual, o que nos leva a questionar o método comparativo em dicotomia temporal "presente x passado" aplicado por Bauman, no qual segue-se da seguinte forma:

                     Transformação
Passado = *sólido* | Presente = *líquido*

Categorias
Padrão de amor: tradicional (*sólido*)
                            moderno (*líquido*)

*Sólido* = estável, prazo (médio-grande), profundo, determinado.
*Líquido* = instável, prazo (curto-médio), raso, indeterminado.

O que penso é: Zygmunt Bauman buscou uma explicação material e laical para desviar ao fato de que há uma notória correlação entre espiritualização da sociedade, se voltada à Verdade, com a estabilidade das instituições, o que é já reduzido à moral religiosa, somente, não à mística, como por pensadores da linha de Tocqueville, ou em abordagens também mais laical (positivista) porém ainda relevantes, como Émile Durkheim em "As Formas Elementares da Vida Religiosa" e Max Weber em "A Ética Protestante e o Espírito do Capitalismo", contrapondo uma abordage mais voltada, de fato, a espiritualidade, como Christopher Dawnson, que defende essa teoria em "Religião e o Surgimento da Cultura Ocidental", e Eric Voegelin, principalmente nas obras "A Nova Ciência da Política" e "Ordem e História".

Encerrando, minha cosmovisão é a católica, o sistema de crença e religião qual sigo é do Deus que se fez homem por amor aos seus filhos, não posso negar ou mesmo omitir o fato de que, por trás de toda a minha crítica estão meus pensamentos e minhas convicções alinhadas àquilo que mais tenho amor em toda minha vida: a Verdade, e a Verdade é Deus, pois Cristo é a Verdade, o Caminho e a Vida, ninguém vai ao Pai se não por Ele, e pois bem, seria incoerência de minha parte não relevar o fato de crença como um dos motivos pelos quais eu rejeito a teoria do amor líquido de Zygmunt Bauman, pois os amores são todos eles praticados por formas, existem por diferentes formas e assim são desde sua tradicionalidade até o predomínio das distorções de declínio espiritual das eras presentes (e também antigas pré-Era Axial), estão esses preservados pelo alinhamento à verdade, assim são indistorcíveis, imutáveis, ou seja, amor é amor, não releva-se o falso amor como um, simplesmente não o é, assim o interesse, a sanha por bens, o egoísmo e a egolatria ("cupiditas", para Santo Agostinho de Hipona, em oposição ao que o santo e filósofo trata por "caritas") não são formas do amor, são autoenganos, não bons, se não são bons logo não são de Deus, ora, se Deus é amor, se ele nos ama, determino como amor (e suas formas) o que está de acordo com a Verdade. Aprofundando, a Teologia do Corpo, do Papa São João Paulo II, rejeita a "liquidez" apresentada por Bauman, pois o amor é, em suma, sacríficio, parte da entrega total de si ao próximo, e se não há logo não é amor. A Teologia do Corpo rejeita não os fundamentos de mentira no "líquido", mas também no "sólido", pois a tradicionalidade não é sinônimo de bom e pleno acordo com o amor que Deus pede de nós, não são as coerções, as violências, as imposições e demais vontades em oposição às de Deus que determinam os amores -- fatos em oposição ao ideário romanticizado. Claro, nem todas as coerções são por si inválidas do amor, ou mesmo as escolhas em trocas racionalizadas, a exemplo do autruísmo em vista da chance da família ter êxito e sucesso, ou seja, pelo bem dos próximos haver a necessidade de submissão a, em exemplo, um casamento forjado, ou algo do gênero, reconhece-se o amor no ato se feito por bem da família, porém o amor incutido, nesse caso, explicita o caráter sacrificial, no qual uma vontade e um amor genuinamente potencial em prazeres e alegrias são anulados, ou seja, mesmo nesse modelo tradicional na "solidez" há possibilidade do amor, não nas formas romanticizadas em critérios, como "estabilidade" e "durabilidade", mas no caráter do sacríficio exercido. Conforme nos ensina São Tomás de Aquino, o amor não é uma "força", tal como ensina Hegel, mas sim uma virtude teologal conforme na "Suma Teológica" (II-II Q. 26-28), não devemos reduzir o amor e os amores em análises simplórias (não simples) de falsa complexidade extraídas em métodos questionáveis e pouco competentes à real diensão de crise espiritual das eras, por esse motivo não concordo com a teoria do amor líquido de Zygmunt Bauman.

@ e3ba5e1a:5e433365

I got into a friendly discussion on X regarding health insurance. The specific question was how to deal with health insurance companies (presumably unfairly) denying claims? My answer, as usual: get government out of it!

The US healthcare system is essentially the worst of both worlds:

• Unlike full single payer, individuals incur high costs
• Unlike a true free market, regulation causes increases in costs and decreases competition among insurers

I'm firmly on the side of moving towards the free market. (And I say that as someone living under a single payer system now.) Here's what I would do:

• Get rid of tax incentives that make health insurance tied to your employer, giving individuals back proper freedom of choice.
• Reduce regulations significantly.

• In the short term, some people will still get rejected claims and other obnoxious behavior from insurance companies. We address that in two ways:

  1. Due to reduced regulations, new insurance companies will be able to enter the market offering more reliable coverage and better rates, and people will flock to them because they have the freedom to make their own choices.
  2. Sue the asses off of companies that reject claims unfairly. And ideally, as one of the few legitimate roles of government in all this, institute new laws that limit the ability of fine print to allow insurers to escape their responsibilities. (I'm hesitant that the latter will happen due to the incestuous relationship between Congress/regulators and insurers, but I can hope.)

Will this magically fix everything overnight like politicians normally promise? No. But it will allow the market to return to a healthy state. And I don't think it will take long (order of magnitude: 5-10 years) for it to come together, but that's just speculation.

And since there's a high correlation between those who believe government can fix problems by taking more control and demanding that only credentialed experts weigh in on a topic (both points I strongly disagree with BTW): I'm a trained actuary and worked in the insurance industry, and have directly seen how government regulation reduces competition, raises prices, and harms consumers.

And my final point: I don't think any prior art would be a good comparison for deregulation in the US, it's such a different market than any other country in the world for so many reasons that lessons wouldn't really translate. Nonetheless, I asked Grok for some empirical data on this, and at best the results of deregulation could be called "mixed," but likely more accurately "uncertain, confused, and subject to whatever interpretation anyone wants to apply."

https://x.com/i/grok/share/Zc8yOdrN8lS275hXJ92uwq98M

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

Lyn Ulbricht Launches MACS at the 2025 Bitcoin Conference to Fight Cruel Sentencing

In a powerful statement against unjust sentencing, Mothers Against Cruel Sentencing (MACS), a nonprofit founded by Lyn Ulbricht, officially launched today at the 2025 Bitcoin conference. The group is dedicated to advocating for prisoners serving excessive and inhumane sentences and supporting the families affected by such punishments.

MACS seeks to unite voices from across the political divide and tech community to drive meaningful reform in sentencing laws.

“Multiple thousands of people, many of them nonviolent like Ross, are serving extreme sentences—locked away for years, decades, even lifetimes,” said Ulbricht. “MACS aims to give families a voice to push for fair and reasonable sentencing, where the punishment fits the crime.”

Ulbricht will formally introduce the organization during the Women of Bitcoin Brunch, a major event at the conference that gathers influential women from the Bitcoin world to discuss advocacy, innovation, and impact.

Ross Ulbricht’s Journey: From Life Sentence to Presidential Pardon

Ross Ulbricht became a controversial figure after launching Silk Road in 2011, an online marketplace that used Bitcoin for anonymous transactions. While the site was unfortunately used for selling illegal drugs, it also served as Bitcoin’s first real-world use case, showcasing the power of decentralized, censorship-resistant money.

In 2015, Ulbricht was sentenced to double life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. His punishment quickly became a symbol of government overreach for many in the tech and the Bitcoin world. Critics argued that his sentence far exceeded the limits of justice, especially considering the nonviolent nature of his crimes.

His pardon, announced shortly after Trump returned to office, is seen as a strong move to honor campaign promises and support Bitcoin’s values of personal freedom and resistance to government overreach. It sparked celebration throughout the Bitcoin community but also reminded advocates that the fight for justice is far from over.

The Bitcoin community continues to call for clemency and support for others, including the developers of Samourai Wallet who are facing prosecution for creating privacy tools, and Edward Snowden, who remains in exile for revealing government surveillance programs.

Ross will be giving the keynotes speech at the 2025 Bitcoin Conference on May 29th at 8pm EST. You can watch his speech live here.

This post Lyn Ulbricht Launches MACS at the 2025 Bitcoin Conference to Fight Cruel Sentencing first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Oscar Zarraga Perez.

@ 9e69e420:d12360c2

Federal employees must remove pronouns from email signatures by the end of the day. This directive comes from internal memos tied to two executive orders signed by Donald Trump. The orders target diversity and equity programs within the government.

CDC, Department of Transportation, and Department of Energy employees were affected. Staff were instructed to make changes in line with revised policy prohibiting certain language.

One CDC employee shared frustration, stating, “In my decade-plus years at CDC, I've never been told what I can and can't put in my email signature.” The directive is part of a broader effort to eliminate DEI initiatives from federal discourse.

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

Bitcoin Well Integrates Nostr BTC Purchases via DMs

Bitcoin Well Inc. (TSXV: BTCW; OTCQB: BCNWF) has launched an integration with Nostr, allowing US customers to buy bitcoin directly through direct messages on the decentralized social protocol, according to a press release sent to Bitcoin Magazine.

Users can link their Nostr identifier (npub) to their Bitcoin Well account and purchase bitcoin by sending specific commands via direct message. The transactions draw from the user’s Cash Balance and send the purchased bitcoin to their existing Lightning Wallet for security.

Nostr is a decentralized social media protocol which is censorship resistant and runs on a network of relays, rather than centralized servers. This means that the users have full control over their message servers. It also adds a layer of protection for the customer’s privacy.

The integration simplifies the process of buying bitcoin by allowing users to make purchases directly through a social platform they already use. As a censorship-resistant protocol, Nostr ensures Bitcoin Well and its customers have full control, avoiding restrictions and potential censorship.

“This is a great achievement for our team!” said founder and CEO of Bitcoin Well Adam O’Brien. “We are deeply committed to make buying bitcoin directly to self custody better than using a custodial exchange. This is a huge step in the right direction. We are meeting bitcoiners where they are and allowing them to buy bitcoin safely.”

Users can link their npub to their Bitcoin Well account to enable bitcoin purchases via direct message. Commands like /buy $21.00 or /stack 69000 sats initiate a transaction, which is confirmed by sending /confirm. The purchase uses funds from the user’s Bitcoin Well Cash Balance, and bitcoin is delivered over the Lightning Network to a pre-registered wallet address.

This post Bitcoin Well Integrates Nostr BTC Purchases via DMs first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Oscar Zarraga Perez.

@ 805b8139:823180b0

Bitcoin Circular Economy in Africa

https://btch17n.layer3.press/articles/9ec7208a-5bd6-4b32-9e1e-24f1aa4b1ca2

@ 7f6db517:a4931eda

The former seems to have found solid product market fit. Expect significant volume, adoption, and usage going forward.

The latter's future remains to be seen. Dependence on Tor, which has had massive reliability issues, and lack of strong privacy guarantees put it at risk.

— ODELL (@ODELL) October 27, 2022

The Basics

• Lightning is a protocol that enables cheap and fast native bitcoin transactions.
• At the core of the protocol is the ability for bitcoin users to create a payment channel with another user.
• These payment channels enable users to make many bitcoin transactions between each other with only two on-chain bitcoin transactions: the channel open transaction and the channel close transaction.
• Essentially lightning is a protocol for interoperable batched bitcoin transactions.
• It is expected that on chain bitcoin transaction fees will increase with adoption and the ability to easily batch transactions will save users significant money.
• As these lightning transactions are processed, liquidity flows from one side of a channel to the other side, on chain transactions are signed by both parties but not broadcasted to update this balance.
• Lightning is designed to be trust minimized, either party in a payment channel can close the channel at any time and their bitcoin will be settled on chain without trusting the other party.

There is no 'Lightning Network'

• Many people refer to the aggregate of all lightning channels as 'The Lightning Network' but this is a false premise.
• There are many lightning channels between many different users and funds can flow across interconnected channels as long as there is a route through peers.
• If a lightning transaction requires multiple hops it will flow through multiple interconnected channels, adjusting the balance of all channels along the route, and paying lightning transaction fees that are set by each node on the route.

Example: You have a channel with Bob. Bob has a channel with Charlie. You can pay Charlie through your channel with Bob and Bob's channel with User C.

• As a result, it is not guaranteed that every lightning user can pay every other lightning user, they must have a route of interconnected channels between sender and receiver.

Lightning in Practice

• Lightning has already found product market fit and usage as an interconnected payment protocol between large professional custodians.
• They are able to easily manage channels and liquidity between each other without trust using this interoperable protocol.
• Lightning payments between large custodians are fast and easy. End users do not have to run their own node or manage their channels and liquidity. These payments rarely fail due to professional management of custodial nodes.
• The tradeoff is one inherent to custodians and other trusted third parties. Custodial wallets can steal funds and compromise user privacy.

Sovereign Lightning

• Trusted third parties are security holes.
• Users must run their own node and manage their own channels in order to use lightning without trusting a third party. This remains the single largest friction point for sovereign lightning usage: the mental burden of actively running a lightning node and associated liquidity management.
• Bitcoin development prioritizes node accessibility so cost to self host your own node is low but if a node is run at home or office, Tor or a VPN is recommended to mask your IP address: otherwise it is visible to the entire network and represents a privacy risk.
• This privacy risk is heightened due to the potential for certain governments to go after sovereign lightning users and compel them to shutdown their nodes. If their IP Address is exposed they are easier to target.
• Fortunately the tools to run and manage nodes continue to get easier but it is important to understand that this will always be a friction point when compared to custodial services.

The Potential Fracture of Lightning

• Any lightning user can choose which users are allowed to open channels with them.
• One potential is that professional custodians only peer with other professional custodians.
• We already see nodes like those run by CashApp only have channels open with other regulated counterparties. This could be due to performance goals, liability reduction, or regulatory pressure.

• Fortunately some of their peers are connected to non-regulated parties so payments to and from sovereign lightning users are still successfully processed by CashApp but this may not always be the case going forward.

Summary

• Many people refer to the aggregate of all lightning channels as 'The Lightning Network' but this is a false premise. There is no singular 'Lightning Network' but rather many payment channels between distinct peers, some connected with each other and some not.
• Lightning as an interoperable payment protocol between professional custodians seems to have found solid product market fit. Expect significant volume, adoption, and usage going forward.
• Lightning as a robust sovereign payment protocol has yet to be battle tested. Heavy reliance on Tor, which has had massive reliability issues, the friction of active liquidity management, significant on chain fee burden for small amounts, interactivity constraints on mobile, and lack of strong privacy guarantees put it at risk.

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If you have never used lightning before, use this guide to get started on your phone.

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If you found this post helpful support my work with bitcoin.

@ bf47c19e:c3d2573b

Originalni tekst na bitcoin-balkan.com.

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Pregled sadržaja

1. Procena vrednosti
2. Većina Bitcoin-ovih pozitivnih strana opstaje
3. Broj ljudi koji su prihvatili Bitcoin
4. Zaključak

Prošlo je trinaest godina od nastanka Bitcoina i lako je poverovati da je većina njegovog rasta iza njega. Deo ovoga je rezultat predrasude koju svi delimo i što nas navodi da zamislimo trenutno stanje stvari kao završni stepen njegovog razvoja. Svaki bitcoiner je nekad mislio da je prekasan sa Bitcoin-om. Međutim, kada primenjujemo kritičko razmišljanje da bismo procenili gde je Bitcoin u svojoj putanji rasta, otkrivamo da je suprotno u stvari tačno: još uvek je vrlo, vrlo rano.

Postoje dva načina da razmišljate o tome koliko je rano za Bitcoin kao zalihu vrednosti neke imovine:

1. Procena vrednosti kao procenat od njegovog punog potencijala

2. Prihvatanje kao procenat od njegovog punog potencijala (na čemu je fokus u ovom članku).

Procena vrednosti

Prvi i najčešći način da se proceni koliko je rano za Bitcoin je da se pogleda njegova ukupna vrednost (trenutno oko 900B USD) i uporedi sa njegovim punim potencijalom. Izazov sa ovim je očigledno da je puni potencijal Bitcoin-a stvar nagađanja. Oni koji duboko razumeju Bitcoin imaju tendenciju da njegov potencijal posmatraju barem kao potencijal zlata (oko 13T USD), ali teoretski više poput 200T USD (oko polovine ukupne vrednosti sveta).

Za brzi pregled ovog potencijala od 200T USD, pogledajmo ukupno raspoloživo tržište Bitcoin-a. Radi jednostavnosti, samo ćemo razmotriti njegovu ulogu zalihe vrednosti i zanemariti njegov potencijal da pojede tržišni udeo od oko 100T USD ukupne vrednosti u različitim svetskim valutama. Uzimajući u obzir različite zalihe vrednosne imovine i grubom procenom koliki bi % Bitcoin mogao da uzme od njih, dobili smo ovakav rezultat:

Iako put do 200T USD nije veliko rastezanje, u stvarnoj vrednosti čini se previše dobrim da bi bio istinit. Sa obzirom da je bez presedana da zaliha vrednosti neke robe postigne vrednost veću od zlata, to jednostavno predstavlja neistraženu teritoriju. Ali čak i ako se jednostavno pridržavamo targetiranja niže ciljne vrednosti zlata od 13T USD, Bitcoin još uvek tendenciju velikog porasta svoje cene u budućnosti.

Većina Bitcoin-ovih pozitivnih strana opstaje

Svako ko razmišlja da nešto svog teško zarađenog novca uskladišti u Bitcoin pita se „da li sam poranio ili zakasnio?“ Nepisano je pravilo da se svako oseća kao da je zakasnio kad stigne. Brojni su primeri ljudi koji žale kako su zakasnili 2011. ili 2013. ili 2016. godine, kada je cena Bitcoin-a bila 5, 100, odnosno 600 USD.

Kao i u bilo kojoj zajednici koja se razvija i raste i u kojoj ima manjka nekretninama, pridošlice zavide ljudima koji su već obezbedili sebi nekretninu, ne sluteći da će njima zavideti ljudi koji tek treba da dođu. Ovaj fenomen je primenjiv i na velikom broju drugih primera. Na primer, zakasneli u Kalifornijskoj zlatnoj groznici bili su razočarani kada su došli, a bogata zlatna polja su već bila iscrpljena, i umesto toga su se naseliti na nekoliko stotina hektara zemljišta, a koje sada vrede bogatstvo.

U srcu ovog osećanja je strah da više nema uspona, da više nema novca koji se može zaraditi uzimajući ono što je još uvek ostalo dostupno. Da li smo dostigli tu tačku sa Bitcoin-om?

Pa ne. Čini se da je zapravo suprotno. Na osnovu punog potencijalnog opsega procene koji smo utvrdili gore, čak i u ishodu niskog nivoa (13T USD), velika većina bogatstva koje će steći vlasnici Bitcoin-a, tek treba da se stekne (96%). Da bi parirao proceni zlata, Bitcoin i dalje mora da poraste 26 puta.

A ako se desi vrhunski ishod, punih 99,7% ukupnog stvaranja bogatstva Bitcoin-a ostaje pred nama. To bi značilo da Bitcoin još uvek treba da poraste 400 puta, zanemarujući pariranje zlatu.

Stavljanjem trenutne vrednosti Bitcoin-a u perspektivu, postaje jasno da je za Bitcoin još uvek vrlo rano.

Iako ova analiza sugeriše da za Bitcoin-u ostaje od 26x do 400x rasta, korisno je proveriti ovaj zaključak kroz drugo razumno objašnjenje, a tamo gde je poznat puni potencijal…

Broj ljudi koji su prihvatili Bitcoin

Procene broja vlasnika Bitcoin-a širom sveta se veoma razlikuju. To je dovelo do prilične količine dvosmislenosti i nesigurnosti u vezi sa stvarnim brojevima i određenog stepena odustajanja i mišljenja da je taj broj jednostavno preteško precizno proceniti. Iako je teško utvrditi konačan broj, glavni razlog za odstupanje u procenama je nedostatak standardizovanih definicija šta znači prihvatanje Bitcoin-a.

Istina je da postoje različiti nivoi prihvatanja Bitcoin-a. Podelom na segmente prihvatanja Bitcoin-a lakše je uvideti ne samo zašto postoji širok opseg procena, već i još važnije, koliko je još uvek rano za prihvatanje Bitcoin-a kao preferirane zalihe vrednosti.

U ove svrhe, hajde da podelimo u segmente prihvatanje Bitcoin-a na četiri različita „nivoa“:

1. Kežual amateri (prstom u vodi)

2. Alokatori 1% (stopalima u vodi)

3. Značajni vernici (do pojasa u vodi)

4. Bitcoin maximalisti (u vodi preko glave)

Pre nego što počnemo, potreban nam je imenilac. Mogli bismo da koristimo globalno stanovništvo, ali po mom mišljenju ovo daje loše rezultate. Ono što mi zaista procenjujemo je koji procenat sveta koji poseduje odredjeno bogatstvo za skladištenje u Bitcoin-u, je to i učinio. Prema podacima sa sajta Statista, 2,2 biliona ljudi na svetu poseduje najmanje 10k USD u neto vrednosti, što se čini kao razumna granica za zalihu koju žele da uskladište. Činjenica je da će siromašne zajednice takođe koristiti Bitcoin kao zalihu vrednosti i verovatno će iz njega izvući veću korist kao rezultat marginalnog pristupa tradicionalnoj bankarskoj infrastrukturi kao klijenti banaka sa „niskom vrednošću“. Međutim, u naše svrhe, jednostavno gledamo koliko je ljudi usvojilo Bitcoin među grupama sa značajnim bogatstvom za skladištenje, tako da će 2.2 biliona služiti kao naša puna potencijalna veličina tržišta.

1. Kežual amateri

Ovaj segment ljudi koji su prihvatili Bitcoin uključuje sve one koji imaju bilo koju količinu Bitcoin-a – vašeg prijatelja sa 20 USD BTC-a negde u nekom novčaniku ili vašu tetku koja se ne seća svoje Coinbase lozinke iz 2017. Po mom mišljenju, najveća zabuna oko broja ljudi koji su prihvatili Bitcoin nastaje zbog poistovećivanja „kežual amatera“ sa ljudima koji su u potpunosti prihvatili Bitcoin. Realnost je takva da ljudi ovog segmenta uglavnom samo eksperimentišu, bilo da bi stekli osećaj za ono o čemu svi pričaju, ili samo uložu nekoliko dolara u Bitcoin u nadi da će možda dobiti džekpot, kao što je slučaj sa greb-greb nagradnim igrama.

Zbog toga, „kežual amateri“ su razlog dovodjenja u zabludu pravog broja ljudi koji su u potpunosti prihvatili Bitcoin. Njihovo ponašanje zapravo ne predstavlja prihvatanje u pravom smislu te reči i stoga se ne bi trebalo smatrati ljudima koji su u potpunosti prihvatili Bitcoin. Istina je da, kada kežual amateri shvate da je Bitcoin najbolja zaliha vrednosti neke imovine u istoriji, neće ostati na samo 20 USD u Bitcoin-ima. Umesto toga, oni će svoju štednju prebaciti u mnogo većim iznosima.

Što se tiče odredjivanja veličine ovog segmenta, Willy Woo je sastavio razumno iscrpnu i sveobuhvatnu procenu od oko 187 miliona ljudi koji su prihvatili Bitcoin, što znači da su oni u najmanju ruku „kežual amateri“.

Koristeći ovaj i naš puni potencijal od 2,2 biliona ljudi kao imenioca, 8,5% potencijalnih ljudi koji su prihvatili Bitcoin-e dostiglo je nivo „kežual amatera“. Ovo je prilično velik broj i potpuno obmanjuje stvarni obim potpunog prihvatanja, a što će pokazati sledeći segmenti.

2. Alokatori 1%

Za preostale potkategorije, tačni podaci su manje dostupni. Kao takvi, sve što možemo je da smislimo razumne procene putem triangulacije.

Po mom mišljenju, „alokatori 1%“ se mogu okarakterisati kao ljudi koji su prihvatili Bitcoin, i koji žele da imaju mali, ali ne i zanemarljivi deo u Bitcoin-u. Za naše svrhu, mislim da je pristojan prag za ovu grupu svako ko ima najmanje 0,1 Bitcoin, i može se smatrati da imaju malu, ali ne i zanemarljivu poziciju u Bitcoin-u.

Gledajući Bitcoin blockchain, postoji oko 3 miliona adresa koje imaju najmanje 0,1 BTC. Pored ovih brojeva na blockchain-u, moramo da uzmemo u obzir i znatan broj ljudi koji imaju ovaj iznos na berzi ili GBTC-u. Kombinovanjem, mislim da je razumno proceniti da je 10 miliona ljudi dostiglo nivo „alokatora 1%“ ili veći.

Na osnovu ovih brojeva, samo 1⁄17 „kežual amatera“ dostiglo je nivo prihvatanja „alokatora 1%“, što znači da je ovaj nivo prihvatanja Bitcoin-a do danas postigao samo 0,5% penetracije. Ovaj strmi pad je razlog zašto je došlo do zablude da veliki broj „kežual amatera“ bude označeno kao grupa koja je u potpunosti prihvatila Bitcoin.

3. Značajni vernici

U ovu kategoriju spada svako ko je dostigao nivo razumevanja Bitcoin-a da alokacija od 1% ili čak 5% više ne izgleda dovoljna.

Uopšteno govoreći, ova grupa se kreće u rasponu od 5 – 50%. Išao bih toliko daleko da bih rekao da je većina ljudi koji sebe smatraju vernicima u Bitcoin-e, uključujući većinu Bitcoin Twitter-a, negde u ovoj grupi.

Procena veličine ove grupe postaje mnogo nejasnija, ali možemo se osloniti na podatke iz blockchain-a da bismo došli do razumne procene.

Za početak, hajde da utvrdimo da je većina ljudi koji su dostigli ovaj nivo verovanja i razumevanja Bitcoin-a, izborila da poseduje najmanje 1 Bitcoin. Pored toga, ovaj nivo ljudi koji su prihvatili Bitcoin je verovatno osigurao svoj Bitcoin u chain-u novčanika kojim oni upravljaju. Gledajući podatke na chain-u, oko 820k adresa ima najmanje 1 Bitcoin. Kao grubu pretpostavku, uzmimo da 500k od toga poseduju ljudi koji su dostigli nivo prihvatanja „značajnog vernika“.

Ako potom generički zaokružimo akaunte za ljude koji nisu postigli status whole­coiner-a (eng. osoba koja poseduje barem 1 BTC), ili koji svoja sredstva drže na berzi, dolazimo do grube procene od 2 miliona „značajnih vernika“.

4. Bitcoin maximal­isti

Za našu svrhu, recimo da ova grupa uključuje svakoga ko je dovoljno duboko ušao u Bitcoin da je zaključio da bi više od 50% njihove neto vrednosti trebalo da bude uskladišteno u Bitcoin-u.

Procena veličine ove grupe je gotovo nemoguća, zato ćemo morati da budemo kreativni.

1. Prodaja „Bitcoin Standard“

2. Hajde da konzervativno procenimo da je samo 20% maximalističara kupilo Bitcoin Standard, i da je 50% tih ljudi koji su ga razumeli, postali maksimalisti. Na osnovu knjige Amazon US rank (6,681), onlajn kalkulatori procenjuju da je prodato oko 15k primeraka.

3. Hajde da budemo velikodušni i da zaokružimo taj broj od oko 15k na 50k, uzimajući u obzir međunarodnu prodaju i kupovinu izvan Amazona.

Ovo nas dovodi do procene broja od 125k maximalista. Da ne bismo pogrešili, bićemo oprezni, i udvostručimo taj broj i rećićemo da ih ima 250k.

1. Kvalitativna triangulacija

Čisto subjektivno, ali čini mi se da na Twitter-u, primarnom domu za komunikaciju maximalista, postoji možda 10k aktivno angažovanih Bitcoin maximalista. Da budemo vrlo konzervativni, recimo da ovo predstavlja oko 5% maximalista (od ukupno 200k).

Uz to, kao procenu od vrha nadole, čini se opravdanim da je oko 10% ljudi koji su dostigli 5 – 50% alokacije Bitcoin-a napravilo skok ka maximalizmu.

Sve u svemu, cifra od oko 250k Bitcoin maximalista čini se konzervativnom, ako ne i velikodušnom pretpostavkom.

To nas dovodi do 0,01% penetracije.

Zaključak

Kako god gledali brojke, još uvek je rano za Bitcoin. Posmatrajući procenu vrednosti Bitcoin-a kao procenat njegovog punog potencijala, vidimo da je trenutna vrednost Bitcoin-a negde između 0,2% i 3% njegovog krajnjeg stanja, što znači da ostaje 30x do 500x rasta. Gledajući napredak prihvatanja Bitcoin-a, vidimo da je trenutna penetracija Bitcoin-a negde između 0,01% i 8,5%, u zavisnosti od toga koji prag prihvatanja gledate.

Ako verujete, kao što ja verujem, da je Bitcoin na putu da postane dominantna zaliha vrednosti i preferirani novac za ceo svet, na kraju će norma biti više od 50% posedovanja neto vrednosti u Bitcoin-u. Budući da naša analiza ovde sugeriše da samo 0,01% sveta zadovoljava ove standarde, opravdano je zaključiti da 99,99% sveta ostaje da sledi njihov primer.

Sve u svemu, dok svi koji se pojave na Bitcoin-u neizbežno osećaju žaljenje zbog toga što nisu ranije investirali i pitaju se da li su u potpunosti propustili brod, jasno je da većina rasta Bitcoin-a ostaje pred nama. Da stavimo ovo u neki kontekst, obzirom da može postojati samo 21 milion Bitcoin-a, prosečna osoba na zemlji (od 8 biliona ljudi) imaće samo 0,0025 Bitcoin-a. Još je toliko rano, da ukupna neto vrednost te prosečne osobe u Bitcoin-u može da se kupi za samo 90 USD.

I ako mislite da je kasno, zapravo je veoma rano, zato vam čestitam i uživajte u skupljanju sats-ova dok su još uvek ovako jeftini!

@ 39cc53c9:27168656

Read the original blog post

I'm launching a new service review section on this blog in collaboration with OrangeFren. These reviews are sponsored, yet the sponsorship does not influence the outcome of the evaluations. Reviews are done in advance, then, the service provider has the discretion to approve publication without modifications.

Sponsored reviews are independent from the kycnot.me list, being only part of the blog. The reviews have no impact on the scores of the listings or their continued presence on the list. Should any issues arise, I will not hesitate to remove any listing.

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The review

WizardSwap is an instant exchange centred around privacy coins. It was launched in 2020 making it old enough to have weathered the 2021 bull run and the subsequent bearish year.

| Pros | Cons | |------|------| | Tor-friendly | Limited liquidity | | Guarantee of no KYC | Overly simplistic design | | Earn by providing liquidity | |

Rating: ★★★★★ Service Website: wizardswap.io

Liquidity

Right off the bat, we'll start off by pointing out that WizardSwap relies on its own liquidity reserves, meaning they aren't just a reseller of Binance or another exchange. They're also committed to a no-KYC policy, when asking them, they even promised they would rather refund a user their original coins, than force them to undergo any sort of verification.

On the one hand, full control over all their infrastructure gives users the most privacy and conviction about the KYC policies remaining in place.

On the other hand, this means the liquidity available for swapping isn't huge. At the time of testing we could only purchase at most about 0.73 BTC with XMR.

It's clear the team behind WizardSwap is aware of this shortfall and so they've come up with a solution unique among instant exchanges. They let you, the user, deposit any of the currencies they support into your account and earn a profit on the trades made using your liquidity.

Trading

Fees on WizardSwap are middle-of-the-pack. The normal fee is 2.2%. That's more than some exchanges that reserve the right to suddenly demand you undergo verification, yet less than half the fees on some other privacy-first exchanges. However as we mentioned in the section above you can earn almost all of that fee (2%) if you provide liquidity to WizardSwap.

It's good that with the current Bitcoin fee market their fees are constant regardless of how much, or how little, you send. This is in stark contrast with some of the alternative swap providers that will charge you a massive premium when attempting to swap small amounts of BTC away.

Test trades

Test trades are always performed without previous notice to the service provider.

During our testing we performed a few test trades and found that every single time WizardSwap immediately detected the incoming transaction and the amount we received was exactly what was quoted before depositing. The fees were inline with what WizardSwap advertises.

• Monero payment proof
• Bitcoin received
• Wizardswap TX link - it's possible that this link may cease to be valid at some point in the future.

ToS and KYC

WizardSwap does not have a Terms of Service or a Privacy Policy page, at least none that can be found by users. Instead, they offer a FAQ section where they addresses some basic questions.

The site does not mention any KYC or AML practices. It also does not specify how refunds are handled in case of failure. However, based on the FAQ section "What if I send funds after the offer expires?" it can be inferred that contacting support is necessary and network fees will be deducted from any refund.

UI & Tor

WizardSwap can be visited both via your usual browser and Tor Browser. Should you decide on the latter you'll find that the website works even with the most strict settings available in the Tor Browser (meaning no JavaScript).

However, when disabling Javascript you'll miss the live support chat, as well as automatic refreshing of the trade page. The lack of the first means that you will have no way to contact support from the trade page if anything goes wrong during your swap, although you can do so by mail.

One important thing to have in mind is that if you were to accidentally close the browser during the swap, and you did not save the swap ID or your browser history is disabled, you'll have no easy way to return to the trade. For this reason we suggest when you begin a trade to copy the url or ID to someplace safe, before sending any coins to WizardSwap.

The UI you'll be greeted by is simple, minimalist, and easy to navigate. It works well not just across browsers, but also across devices. You won't have any issues using this exchange on your phone.

Getting in touch

The team behind WizardSwap appears to be most active on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/WizardSwap_io

If you have any comments or suggestions about the exchange make sure to reach out to them. In the past they've been very receptive to user feedback, for instance a few months back WizardSwap was planning on removing DeepOnion, but the community behind that project got together ^1 and after reaching out WizardSwap reversed their decision ^2.

You can also contact them via email at: support @ wizardswap . io

Disclaimer

None of the above should be understood as investment or financial advice. The views are our own only and constitute a faithful representation of our experience in using and investigating this exchange. This review is not a guarantee of any kind on the services rendered by the exchange. Do your own research before using any service.

@ 21335073:a244b1ad

The other day, I had the privilege of sitting down with one of my favorite living artists. Our conversation was so captivating that I felt compelled to share it. I’m leaving his name out for privacy.

Since our last meeting, I’d watched a documentary about his life, one he’d helped create. I told him how much I admired his openness in it. There’s something strange about knowing intimate details of someone’s life when they know so little about yours—it’s almost like I knew him too well for the kind of relationship we have.

He paused, then said quietly, with a shy grin, that watching the documentary made him realize how “odd and eccentric” he is. I laughed and told him he’s probably the sanest person I know. Because he’s lived fully, chasing love, passion, and purpose with hardly any regrets. He’s truly lived.

Today, I turn 44, and I’ll admit I’m a bit eccentric myself. I think I came into the world this way. I’ve made mistakes along the way, but I carry few regrets. Every misstep taught me something. And as I age, I’m not interested in blending in with the world—I’ll probably just lean further into my own brand of “weird.” I want to live life to the brim. The older I get, the more I see that the “normal” folks often seem less grounded than the eccentric artists who dare to live boldly. Life’s too short to just exist, actually live.

I’m not saying to be strange just for the sake of it. But I’ve seen what the crowd celebrates, and I’m not impressed. Forge your own path, even if it feels lonely or unpopular at times.

It’s easy to scroll through the news and feel discouraged. But actually, this is one of the most incredible times to be alive! I wake up every day grateful to be here, now. The future is bursting with possibility—I can feel it.

So, to my fellow weirdos on nostr: stay bold. Keep dreaming, keep pushing, no matter what’s trending. Stay wild enough to believe in a free internet for all. Freedom is radical—hold it tight. Live with the soul of an artist and the grit of a fighter. Thanks for inspiring me and so many others to keep hoping. Thank you all for making the last year of my life so special.

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

Bitcoin Is Here To Stay, Says Former US Treasurer Rosie Rios

At the 2025 Bitcoin Conference in Las Vegas, the Co-Manager of President Trump’s 2024 Campaign Chris LaCivita, Congressman Brian T. Jack, the Chief Policy Officer of Coinbase Faryar Shirzad and Former US Treasurer Rosie Rios at the Nakamoto stage discussed the 250th birthday of the United States, Bitcoin, freedom, and crypto.

Rosie Rios emphasized that consumer behavior is very hard to change unless there is a shock to the system. She said she is amazed by the momentum of the level of change that has happened during these four months in terms of giving that green light to innovation to actually happen.

“You are gonna hear me say a lot, the train has left the station. Bitcoin is here to stay. Blockchain is here to stay,” said Rios.

JUST IN: Former Treasurer of the United States Rosie Rios says, “#Bitcoin is here to stay.”

“The train has left the station.” pic.twitter.com/M4noy7DPha

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) May 27, 2025

“It’s about freedom and what crypto represents on a national scale,” said Chris LaCivita. “This country was founded on the entrepreneurial spirit of Americans and we are on the forefront of establishing and formulating the future of currency.”

Jack mentioned that earlier this year, they started to use a congressional tool called the Congressional Review Act that will enable them to repeal any regulation Joe Biden’s administration put on any sector during his last months in office. 

“One of the first laws that Donald Trump signed into law was the repeal of a very niche but interesting issue for some folks in the room,” stated Jack. “It was a policy that the CFPB thrust upon the industry in December that really helped them regulate, if you will, or over regulate payment processors. So a lot of the payment processors that process bitcoin, process crypto, they were going to be under these incredible burdens by CFPB.”

“The eyes of the world are watching,” commented Rosie. “We are setting the tone for what happens not just in our history but for the future and for all of us this is the American dream. This is about the values of which our country was founded.”

“For Bitcoin and Blockchain in general whoever creates that dominant digital infrastructure will set the tone for the whole global financial system and it starts here literally at this conference with this leadership with this President moving forward,” stated Rosie Rios closing the panel. 

This post Bitcoin Is Here To Stay, Says Former US Treasurer Rosie Rios first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Oscar Zarraga Perez.

@ da8b7de1:c0164aee

Nemzetközi nukleáris energetikai hírek

Új amerikai kis moduláris reaktor engedélykérelem

A Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) benyújtotta az Egyesült Államok Nukleáris Szabályozó Hatóságához (NRC) az engedélykérelmet egy GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy BWRX-300 kis moduláris reaktor (SMR) megépítésére a Clinch River telephelyen. Ez jelentős lépés az új, fejlett nukleáris technológiák bevezetésében az Egyesült Államokban, és jól mutatja, hogy az SMR-ek egyre fontosabb, rugalmas és skálázható tisztaenergia-megoldássá válnak[world-nuclear-news.org].

Amerikai elnöki rendeletek a nukleáris bővítés felgyorsítására

Donald Trump amerikai elnök négy elnöki rendeletet írt alá, amelyek célja a reaktorengedélyezési folyamatok gyorsítása, a hazai urántermelés növelése és a fejlett nukleáris technológiák bevezetésének felgyorsítása. Az új irányelvek ambiciózus célokat tűznek ki, például az amerikai nukleáris kapacitás megnégyszerezését 2050-re, az NRC számára az engedélyezési idő 18 hónapra csökkentését, valamint szövetségi területek kijelölését új nukleáris létesítmények számára. Ezeket a rendeleteket az „amerikai nukleáris reneszánsz” alapjának szánják, különös hangsúlyt fektetve az AI-ipar energiaigényeinek kielégítésére és a hazai gyártás újjáélesztésére[nucnet.org].

Iparági optimizmus és globális befektetési trendek

Az iparági vezetők egészséges és optimista kilátásokról számolnak be a nukleáris energia terén, kiemelve olyan aktív projekteket, mint a TerraPower Wyomingban, az X-energy és a Dow együttműködése, valamint a Westinghouse tevékenysége Lengyelországban. Különösen nagy az érdeklődés a magánbefektetések iránt a magas dúsítású, alacsony dúsítású urán (HALEU) előállítása terén, illetve annak lehetősége iránt, hogy a Világbank elkezdjen nukleáris projekteket finanszírozni, ami szélesebb körű nemzetközi befektetéseket is elindíthat[ans.org].

Nemzetközi fejlemények és ellátási lánc felkészültsége

Számos ország halad előre a nukleáris fejlesztésekkel: - Kína tíz új reaktort hagyott jóvá. - India szabályozó hatósága engedélyezte egy új, négyblokkos telephely létesítését Rádzsasztánban. - Belgium konzultációt indított egy innovatív, ólom-hűtésű kis moduláris reaktor terveiről. - Brazília várhatóan Oroszországgal közösen fejleszt SMR-projektet. - Csehország új nukleáris szerződéseket köt, a külső politikai nyomás ellenére is.

A globális nukleáris ellátási láncot arra ösztönzik, hogy készüljön fel a gyors növekedésre, kiemelve a helyi és nemzetközi együttműködés fontosságát a növekvő igények kielégítésére[world-nuclear-news.org].

Úszó atomerőművek és tengeri innovációk

Az úszó atomerőművek továbbra is az innováció középpontjában állnak: - Oroszország Akademik Lomonosov nevű úszó atomerőműve elérte az első milliárd kilowattóra termelést. - Az Egyesült Királyságban a Core Power egy amerikai központú tengeri nukleáris programot fejleszt, melynek célja úszó reaktorok telepítése amerikai kikötőkben a 2030-as évek közepére. - A dán Seaborg Technologies (új nevén Saltfoss Energy) kompakt olvadt só reaktor technológián dolgozik, amelyet szintén a 2030-as évekre terveznek bevezetni. - A Westinghouse és a Core Power együttműködik egy úszó atomerőmű fejlesztésén az eVinci mikroreaktorral[world-nuclear-news.org].

Érintettek bevonása és társadalmi bizalom

A Nemzetközi Atomenergia-ügynökség (IAEA) kiemeli az érintettek bevonásának fontosságát a nukleáris energia jövője szempontjából. Folyamatban lévő konferenciáján olyan témákat tárgyalnak, mint a nukleáris energia szerepe az ipari dekarbonizációban, a nyilvános meghallgatások értéke a projektek átláthatósága érdekében, valamint a társadalmi bizalom és a szabályozói megfelelés legjobb gyakorlatai, különösen az új technológiák, például az SMR-ek bevezetése során[iaea.org].

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Források: - world-nuclear-news.org - nucnet.org - iaea.org - ans.org

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

One out of Four People Own Bitcoin and Crypto in 2025: Report

Today, Gemini, a crypto platform, released its 2025 Global State of Crypto Report, revealing a notable increase in cryptocurrency adoption in different countries. According to a press release sent to Bitcoin Magazine, ownership among respondents in the US, UK, France, and Singapore rose from one in five (21%) in 2024 to one in four (24%) in 2025.

The Trump Administration’s treatment of Bitcoin may have played a major role in its global growth. Since taking office in January 2025, President Trump has launched a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, where he installed leadership at the SEC that are in favor of digital assets, and endorsed legislation aimed at regulating stablecoins and establishing a clear framework for digital assets.

“The United States has proven itself as a global leader in web3 and blockchain technology with the addition of Trump’s pro-crypto policies, which is a significant change from the previous Administration” said the CEO of Gemini Marshall Beard. “With this pro-innovation approach, the crypto industry is positioned for significant growth in the United States and around the world.”

In the US nearly 23% of non-owners said that President Trump’s launch of the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve made them more confident in the value of Bitcoin and other cryptos. Similar feelings were shared by about one in five non-owners in the United Kingdom (21%) and Singapore (19%).

Europe is leading the way in crypto ownership growth. In 2025, 24% of people in the UK said they own cryptocurrency, up from 18% last year; the biggest jump of any country surveyed. France also saw an increase, with 21% owning crypto, compared to 18% in 2024. In the US, adoption rose from 20% to 22%, and Singapore went from 26% to 28%.

France’s strong pro-crypto stance has encouraged more people there to invest in digital assets, which is the highest rate among all surveyed nations with 67%. Following France are Singapore, Italy, the UK, the US, and Australia.

In the US, nearly two in five crypto owners (39%) have invested in crypto ETFs, showing a steady rise since their approval in early 2024. Additionally, half of Millennials and Gen Z globally have invested in crypto at some point, with 52% of Millennials and 48% of Gen Z reporting current or past ownership.

This post One out of Four People Own Bitcoin and Crypto in 2025: Report first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Oscar Zarraga Perez.

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如果比特币发明了真正的钱，那么 Crypto 是什么？

引言

比特币诞生之初就以“数字黄金”姿态示人，被支持者誉为人类历史上第一次发明了真正意义上的钱——一种不依赖国家信用、总量恒定且不可篡改的硬通货。然而十多年过去，比特币之后蓬勃而起的加密世界（Crypto）已经远超“货币”范畴：从智能合约平台到去中心组织，从去央行的稳定币到戏谑荒诞的迷因币，Crypto 演化出一个丰富而混沌的新生态。这不禁引发一个根本性的追问：如果说比特币解决了“真金白银”的问题，那么 Crypto 又完成了什么发明？

Crypto 与政治的碰撞：随着Crypto版图扩张，全球政治势力也被裹挟进这场金融变革洪流（示意图）。比特币的出现重塑了货币信用，但Crypto所引发的却是一场更深刻的政治与治理结构实验。从华尔街到华盛顿，从散户论坛到主权国家，越来越多人意识到：Crypto不只是技术或金融现象，而是一种全新的政治表达结构正在萌芽。正如有激进论者所断言的：“比特币发明了真正的钱，而Crypto则在发明新的政治。”价格K线与流动性曲线，或许正成为这个时代社群意志和社会价值观的新型投射。

冲突结构：当价格挑战选票

传统政治中，选票是人民意志的载体，一人一票勾勒出民主治理的正统路径。而在链上的加密世界里，骤升骤降的价格曲线和真金白银的买卖行为却扮演起了选票的角色：资金流向成了民意走向，市场多空成为立场表决。价格行为取代选票，这听来匪夷所思，却已在Crypto社群中成为日常现实。每一次代币的抛售与追高，都是社区对项目决策的即时“投票”；每一根K线的涨跌，都折射出社区意志的赞同或抗议。市场行为本身承担了决策权与象征权——价格即政治，正在链上蔓延。

这一新生政治形式与旧世界的民主机制形成了鲜明冲突。bitcoin.org中本聪在比特币白皮书中提出“一CPU一票”的工作量证明共识，用算力投票取代了人为决策bitcoin.org。而今，Crypto更进一步，用资本市场的涨跌来取代传统政治的选举。支持某项目？直接购入其代币推高市值；反对某提案？用脚投票抛售资产。相比漫长的选举周期和层层代议制，链上市场提供了近乎实时的“公投”机制。但这种机制也引发巨大争议：资本的投票天然偏向持币多者（富者）的意志，是否意味着加密政治更为金权而非民权？持币多寡成为影响力大小，仿佛选举演变成了“一币一票”，巨鲸富豪俨然掌握更多话语权。这种与民主平等原则的冲突，成为Crypto政治形式饱受质疑的核心张力之一。

尽管如此，我们已经目睹市场投票在Crypto世界塑造秩序的威力：2016年以太坊因DAO事件分叉时，社区以真金白银“投票”决定了哪条链获得未来。arkhamintelligence.com结果是新链以太坊（ETH）成为主流，其市值一度超过2,800亿美元，而坚持原则的以太经典（ETC）市值不足35亿美元，不及前者的八十分之一arkhamintelligence.com。市场选择清楚地昭示了社区的政治意志。同样地，在比特币扩容之争、各类硬分叉博弈中，无不是由投资者和矿工用资金与算力投票，胜者存续败者黯然。价格成为裁决纷争的最终选票，冲击着传统“选票决胜”的政治理念。Crypto的价格民主，与现代代议民主正面相撞，激起当代政治哲思中前所未有的冲突火花。

治理与分配

XRP对决SEC成为了加密世界“治理与分配”冲突的经典战例。2020年底，美国证券交易委员会（SEC）突然起诉Ripple公司，指控其发行的XRP代币属于未注册证券，消息一出直接引爆市场恐慌。XRP价格应声暴跌，一度跌去超过60%，最低触及0.21美元coindesk.com。曾经位居市值前三的XRP险些被打入谷底，监管的强硬姿态似乎要将这个项目彻底扼杀。

然而XRP社区没有选择沉默。 大批长期持有者组成了自称“XRP军团”（XRP Army）的草根力量，在社交媒体上高调声援Ripple，对抗监管威胁。面对SEC的指控，他们集体发声，质疑政府选择性执法，声称以太坊当年发行却“逍遥法外”，只有Ripple遭到不公对待coindesk.com。正如《福布斯》的评论所言：没人预料到愤怒的加密散户投资者会掀起法律、政治和社交媒体领域的‘海啸式’反击，痛斥监管机构背弃了保护投资者的承诺crypto-law.us。这种草根抵抗监管的话语体系迅速形成：XRP持有者不但在网上掀起舆论风暴，还采取实际行动向SEC施压。他们发起了请愿，抨击SEC背离保护投资者初衷、诉讼给个人投资者带来巨大伤害，号召停止对Ripple的上诉纠缠——号称这是在捍卫全球加密用户的共同利益bitget.com。一场由民间主导的反监管运动就此拉开帷幕。

Ripple公司则选择背水一战，拒绝和解，在法庭上与SEC针锋相对地鏖战了近三年之久。Ripple坚称XRP并非证券，不应受到SEC管辖，即使面临沉重法律费用和业务压力也不妥协。2023年，这场持久战迎来了标志性转折：美国法庭作出初步裁决，认定XRP在二级市场的流通不构成证券coindesk.com。这一胜利犹如给沉寂已久的XRP注入强心针——消息公布当天XRP价格飙涨近一倍，盘中一度逼近1美元大关coindesk.com。沉重监管阴影下苟延残喘的项目，凭借司法层面的突破瞬间重获生机。这不仅是Ripple的胜利，更被支持者视为整个加密行业对SEC强权的一次胜仗。

XRP的对抗路线与某些“主动合规”的项目形成了鲜明对比。 稳定币USDC的发行方Circle、美国最大合规交易所Coinbase等选择了一条迎合监管的道路：它们高调拥抱现行法规，希望以合作换取生存空间。然而现实却给了它们沉重一击。USDC稳定币在监管风波中一度失去美元锚定，哪怕Circle及时披露储备状况也无法阻止恐慌蔓延，大批用户迅速失去信心，短时间内出现数十亿美元的赎回潮blockworks.co。Coinbase则更为直接：即便它早已注册上市、反复向监管示好，2023年仍被SEC指控为未注册证券交易所reuters.com，卷入漫长诉讼漩涡。可见，在迎合监管的策略下，这些机构非但未能换来监管青睐，反而因官司缠身或用户流失而丧失市场信任。 相比之下，XRP以对抗求生存的路线反而赢得了投资者的眼光：价格的涨跌成为社区投票的方式，抗争的勇气反过来强化了市场对它的信心。

同样引人深思的是另一种迥异的治理路径：技术至上的链上治理。 以MakerDAO为代表的去中心化治理模式曾被寄予厚望——MKR持币者投票决策、算法维持稳定币Dai的价值，被视为“代码即法律”的典范。然而，这套纯技术治理在市场层面却未能形成广泛认同，亦无法激发群体性的情绪动员。复杂晦涩的机制使得普通投资者难以参与其中，MakerDAO的治理讨论更多停留在极客圈子内部，在社会大众的政治对话中几乎听不见它的声音。相比XRP对抗监管所激发的铺天盖地关注，MakerDAO的治理实验显得默默无闻、难以“出圈”。这也说明，如果一种治理实践无法连接更广泛的利益诉求和情感共鸣，它在社会政治层面就难以形成影响力。

XRP之争的政治象征意义由此凸显： 它展示了一条“以市场对抗国家”的斗争路线，即通过代币价格的集体行动来回应监管权力的施压。在这场轰动业界的对决中，价格即是抗议的旗帜，涨跌映射着政治立场。XRP对SEC的胜利被视作加密世界向旧有权力宣告的一次胜利：资本市场的投票器可以撼动监管者的强权。这种“价格即政治”的张力，正是Crypto世界前所未有的社会实验：去中心化社区以市场行为直接对抗国家权力，在无形的价格曲线中凝聚起政治抗争的力量，向世人昭示加密货币不仅有技术和资本属性，更蕴含着不可小觑的社会能量和政治意涵。

不可归零的政治资本

Meme 币的本质并非廉价或易造，而在于其构建了一种“无法归零”的社群生存结构。 对于传统观点而言，多数 meme 币只是短命的投机游戏：价格暴涨暴跌后一地鸡毛，创始人套现跑路，投资者血本无归，然后“大家转去炒下一个”theguardian.com。然而，meme 币社群的独特之处在于——失败并不意味着终结，而更像是运动的逗号而非句号。一次币值崩盘后，持币的草根们往往并未散去；相反，他们汲取教训，准备东山再起。这种近乎“不死鸟”的循环，使得 meme 币运动呈现出一种数字政治循环的特质：价格可以归零，但社群的政治热情和组织势能不归零。正如研究者所指出的，加密领域中的骗局、崩盘等冲击并不会摧毁生态，反而成为让系统更加强韧的“健康应激”，令整个行业在动荡中变得更加反脆弱cointelegraph.com。对应到 meme 币，每一次暴跌和重挫，都是社群自我进化、卷土重来的契机。这个去中心化群体打造出一种自组织的安全垫，失败者得以在瓦砾上重建家园。对于草根社群、少数派乃至体制的“失败者”而言，meme 币提供了一个永不落幕的抗争舞台，一种真正反脆弱的政治性。正因如此，我们看到诸多曾被嘲笑的迷因项目屡败屡战：例如 Dogecoin 自2013年问世后历经八年沉浮，早已超越玩笑属性，成为互联网史上最具韧性的迷因之一frontiersin.org；支撑 Dogecoin 的正是背后强大的迷因文化和社区意志，它如同美国霸权支撑美元一样，为狗狗币提供了“永不中断”的生命力frontiersin.org。

“复活权”的数字政治意涵

这种“失败-重生”的循环结构蕴含着深刻的政治意涵：在传统政治和商业领域，一个政党选举失利或一家公司破产往往意味着清零出局，资源散尽、组织瓦解。然而在 meme 币的世界，社群拥有了一种前所未有的“复活权”。当项目崩盘，社区并不必然随之消亡，而是可以凭借剩余的人心和热情卷土重来——哪怕换一个 token 名称，哪怕重启一条链，运动依然延续。正如 Cheems 项目的核心开发者所言，在几乎无人问津、技术受阻的困境下，大多数人可能早已卷款走人，但 “CHEEMS 社区没有放弃，背景、技术、风投都不重要，重要的是永不言弃的精神”cointelegraph.com。这种精神使得Cheems项目起死回生，社区成员齐声宣告“我们都是 CHEEMS”，共同书写历史cointelegraph.com。与传统依赖风投和公司输血的项目不同，Cheems 完全依靠社区的信念与韧性存续发展，体现了去中心化运动的真谛cointelegraph.com。这意味着政治参与的门槛被大大降低：哪怕没有金主和官方背书，草根也能凭借群体意志赋予某个代币新的生命。对于身处社会边缘的群体来说，meme 币俨然成为自组织的安全垫和重新集结的工具。难怪有学者指出，近期涌入meme币浪潮的主力，正是那些对现实失望但渴望改变命运的年轻人theguardian.com——“迷茫的年轻人，想要一夜暴富”theguardian.com。meme币的炒作表面上看是投机赌博，但背后蕴含的是草根对既有金融秩序的不满与反抗：没有监管和护栏又如何？一次失败算不得什么，社区自有后路和新方案。这种由底层群众不断试错、纠错并重启的过程，本身就是一种数字时代的新型反抗运动和群众动员机制。

举例而言，Terra Luna 的沉浮充分展现了这种“复活机制”的政治力量。作为一度由风投资本热捧的项目，Luna 币在2022年的崩溃本可被视作“归零”的失败典范——稳定币UST瞬间失锚，Luna币价归零，数十亿美元灰飞烟灭。然而“崩盘”并没有画下休止符。Luna的残余社区拒绝承认失败命运，通过链上治理投票毅然启动新链，“复活”了 Luna 代币，再次回到市场交易reuters.com。正如 Terra 官方在崩盘后发布的推文所宣称：“我们力量永在社区，今日的决定正彰显了我们的韧性”reuters.com。事实上，原链更名为 Luna Classic 后，大批所谓“LUNC 军团”的散户依然死守阵地，誓言不离不弃；他们自发烧毁巨量代币以缩减供应、推动技术升级，试图让这个一度归零的项目重新燃起生命之火binance.com。失败者并未散场，而是化作一股草根洪流，奋力托举起项目的残迹。经过迷因化的叙事重塑，这场从废墟中重建价值的壮举，成为加密世界中草根政治的经典一幕。类似的案例不胜枚举：曾经被视为笑话的 DOGE（狗狗币）正因多年社群的凝聚而跻身主流币种，总市值一度高达数百亿美元，充分证明了“民有民享”的迷因货币同样可以笑傲市场frontiersin.org。再看最新的美国政治舞台，连总统特朗普也推出了自己的 meme 币 $TRUMP，号召粉丝拿真金白银来表达支持。该币首日即从7美元暴涨至75美元，两天后虽回落到40美元左右，但几乎同时，第一夫人 Melania 又发布了自己的 $Melania 币，甚至连就职典礼的牧师都跟风发行了纪念币theguardian.com！显然，对于狂热的群众来说，一个币的沉浮并非终点，而更像是运动的换挡——资本市场成为政治参与的新前线，你方唱罢我登场，meme 币的群众动员热度丝毫不减。值得注意的是，2024年出现的 Pump.fun 等平台更是进一步降低了这一循环的技术门槛，任何人都可以一键生成自己的 meme 币theguardian.com。这意味着哪怕某个项目归零，剩余的社区完全可以借助此类工具迅速复制一个新币接力，延续集体行动的火种。可以说，在 meme 币的世界里，草根社群获得了前所未有的再生能力和主动权，这正是一种数字时代的群众政治奇观：失败可以被当作梗来玩，破产能够变成重生的序章。

价格即政治：群众投机的新抗争

meme 币现象的兴盛表明：在加密时代，价格本身已成为一种政治表达。这些看似荒诞的迷因代币，将金融市场变成了群众宣泄情绪和诉求的另一个舞台。有学者将此概括为“将公民参与直接转化为了投机资产”cdn-brighterworld.humanities.mcmaster.ca——也就是说，社会运动的热情被注入币价涨跌，政治支持被铸造成可以交易的代币。meme 币融合了金融、技术与政治，通过病毒般的迷因文化激发公众参与，形成对现实政治的某种映射cdn-brighterworld.humanities.mcmaster.caosl.com。当一群草根投入全部热忱去炒作一枚毫无基本面支撑的币时，这本身就是一种大众政治动员的体现：币价暴涨，意味着一群人以戏谑的方式在向既有权威叫板；币价崩盘，也并不意味着信念的消亡，反而可能孕育下一次更汹涌的造势。正如有分析指出，政治类 meme 币的出现前所未有地将群众文化与政治情绪融入市场行情，价格曲线俨然成为民意和趋势的风向标cdn-brighterworld.humanities.mcmaster.ca。在这种局面下，投机不再仅仅是逐利，还是一种宣示立场、凝聚共识的过程——一次次看似荒唐的炒作背后，是草根对传统体制的不服与嘲讽，是失败者拒绝认输的呐喊。归根结底，meme 币所累积的，正是一种不可被归零的政治资本。价格涨落之间，群众的愤怒、幽默与希望尽显其中；这股力量不因一次挫败而消散，反而在市场的循环中愈发壮大。也正因如此，我们才说“价格即政治”——在迷因币的世界里，价格不只是数字，更是人民政治能量的晴雨表，哪怕归零也终将卷土重来。cdn-brighterworld.humanities.mcmaster.caosl.com

全球新兴现象：伊斯兰金融的入场

当Crypto在西方世界掀起市场治政的狂潮时，另一股独特力量也悄然融入这一场域：伊斯兰金融携其独特的道德秩序，开始在链上寻找存在感。长期以来，伊斯兰金融遵循着一套区别于世俗资本主义的原则：禁止利息（Riba）、反对过度投机（Gharar/Maysir）、强调实际资产支撑和道德投资。当这些原则遇上去中心化的加密技术，会碰撞出怎样的火花？出人意料的是，这两者竟在“以市场行为表达价值”这个层面产生了惊人的共鸣。伊斯兰金融并不拒绝市场机制本身，只是为其附加了道德准则；Crypto则将市场机制推向了政治高位，用价格来表达社群意志。二者看似理念迥异，实则都承认市场行为可以也应当承载社会价值观。这使得越来越多金融与政治分析人士开始关注：当虔诚的宗教伦理遇上狂野的加密市场，会塑造出何种新范式？

事实上，穆斯林世界已经在探索“清真加密”的道路。一些区块链项目致力于确保协议符合伊斯兰教法（Sharia）的要求。例如Haqq区块链发行的伊斯兰币（ISLM），从规则层面内置了宗教慈善义务——每发行新币即自动将10%拨入慈善DAO，用于公益捐赠，以符合天课（Zakat）的教义nasdaq.comnasdaq.com。同时，该链拒绝利息和赌博类应用，2022年还获得了宗教权威的教令（Fatwa）认可其合规性nasdaq.com。再看理念层面，伊斯兰经济学强调货币必须有内在价值、收益应来自真实劳动而非纯利息剥削。这一点与比特币的“工作量证明”精神不谋而合——有人甚至断言法定货币无锚印钞并不清真，而比特币这类需耗费能源生产的资产反而更符合教法初衷cointelegraph.com。由此，越来越多穆斯林投资者开始以道德投资的名义进入Crypto领域，将资金投向符合清真原则的代币和协议。

这种现象带来了微妙的双重合法性：一方面，Crypto世界原本奉行“价格即真理”的世俗逻辑，而伊斯兰金融为其注入了一股道德合法性，使部分加密资产同时获得了宗教与市场的双重背书；另一方面，即便在遵循宗教伦理的项目中，最终决定成败的依然是市场对其价值的认可。道德共识与市场共识在链上交汇，共同塑造出一种混合的新秩序。这一全球新兴现象引发广泛议论：有人将其视为金融民主化的极致表现——不同文化价值都能在市场平台上表达并竞争；也有人警惕这可能掩盖新的风险，因为把宗教情感融入高风险资产，既可能凝聚强大的忠诚度，也可能在泡沫破裂时引发信仰与财富的双重危机。但无论如何，伊斯兰金融的入场使Crypto的政治版图更加丰盈多元。从华尔街交易员到中东教士，不同背景的人们正通过Crypto这个奇特的舞台，对人类价值的表达方式进行前所未有的实验。

升华结语：价格即政治的新直觉

回顾比特币问世以来的这段历程，我们可以清晰地看到一条演进的主线：先有货币革命，后有政治发明。比特币赋予了人类一种真正自主的数字货币，而Crypto在此基础上完成的，则是一项前所未有的政治革新——它让市场价格行为承担起了类似政治选票的功能，开创了一种“价格即政治”的新直觉。在这个直觉下，市场不再只是冷冰冰的交易场所；每一次资本流动、每一轮行情涨落，都被赋予了社会意义和政治涵义。买入即表态，卖出即抗议，流动性的涌入或枯竭胜过千言万语的陈情。Crypto世界中，K线图俨然成为民意曲线，行情图就是政治晴雨表。决策不再由少数权力精英关起门来制定，而是在全球无眠的交易中由无数普通人共同谱写。这样的政治形式也许狂野，也许充满泡沫和噪音，但它不可否认地调动起了广泛的社会参与，让原本疏离政治进程的个体通过持币、交易重新找回了影响力的幻觉或实感。

“价格即政治”并非一句简单的口号，而是Crypto给予世界的全新想象力。它质疑了传统政治的正统性：如果一串代码和一群匿名投资者就能高效决策资源分配，我们为何还需要繁冗的官僚体系？它也拷问着自身的内在隐忧：当财富与权力深度绑定，Crypto政治如何避免堕入金钱统治的老路？或许，正是在这样的矛盾和张力中，人类政治的未来才会不断演化。Crypto所开启的，不仅是技术乌托邦或金融狂欢，更可能是一次对民主形式的深刻拓展和挑战。这里有最狂热的逐利者，也有最理想主义的社群塑梦者；有一夜暴富的神话，也有瞬间破灭的惨痛。而这一切汇聚成的洪流，正冲撞着工业时代以来既定的权力谱系。

当我们再次追问：Crypto究竟是什么？ 或许可以这样回答——Crypto是比特币之后，人类完成的一次政治范式的试验性跃迁。在这里，价格行为化身为选票，资本市场演化为广场，代码与共识共同撰写“社会契约”。这是一场仍在进行的文明实验：它可能无声地融入既有秩序，也可能剧烈地重塑未来规则。但无论结局如何，如今我们已经见证：在比特币发明真正的货币之后，Crypto正在发明真正属于21世纪的政治。它以数字时代的语言宣告：在链上，价格即政治，市场即民意，代码即法律。这，或许就是Crypto带给我们的最直观而震撼的本质启示。

参考资料：

• 中本聪. 比特币白皮书: 一种点对点的电子现金系统. (2008)bitcoin.org

• Arkham Intelligence. Ethereum vs Ethereum Classic: Understanding the Differences. (2023)arkhamintelligence.com

• Binance Square (@渔神的加密日记). 狗狗币价格为何上涨？背后的原因你知道吗？binance.com

• Cointelegraph中文. 特朗普的迷因币晚宴预期内容揭秘. (2025)cn.cointelegraph.com

• 慢雾科技 Web3Caff (@Lisa). 风险提醒：从 LIBRA 看“政治化”的加密货币骗局. (2025)web3caff.com

• Nasdaq (@Anthony Clarke). How Cryptocurrency Aligns with the Principles of Islamic Finance. (2023)nasdaq.comnasdaq.com

• Cointelegraph Magazine (@Andrew Fenton). DeFi can be halal but not DOGE? Decentralizing Islamic finance. (2023)cointelegraph.com

@ 0c65eba8:4a08ef9a

You’ve heard the word.

You’ve probably used it. Maybe even hurled it at someone in a moment of pain. "Narcissist."

It lands like a curse.

And in today’s culture, it is one.

Not because it’s accurate.

But because it’s easy and packs a gut punch.

We blame narcissism for everything now. Every breakup. Every betrayal. Every moment someone’s ego gets in the way of our feelings.

Girls love to call their boyfriends narcissists when they feel neglected or controlled. Men love to call shallow women narcissists when they note the slightest vanity.

Friends turn on each other. Parents diagnose their children. Exes declare psychological war.

It’s become the pop-psych version of original sin.

But here’s the problem: the way we use this word is no longer grounded in clarity, science, or truth. It’s grounded in resentment.

And resentment is not a tool for diagnosis. It’s a weapon.

The Real Problem: Personality Dysfunction Is Rising

We are living in an era of personality dysfunction.

People hurt each other. They sabotage relationships, abandon their children, manipulate their spouses, destroy trust, and call it “self-care.”

Something is wrong. Deeply wrong.

We’ve studied it. Therapists, researchers, and social commentators have all tried to map it out.

And to be fair, some of those efforts have succeeded.

Certain patterns of personality dysfunction can be measured, tracked, and treated. When a trait can be operationalized, when we can define it clearly, measure it consistently, and test interventions reliably, it becomes useful. It becomes a tool for healing, not a weapon of blame.

For a psychological label to be scientifically sound, it must meet these criteria:

Antisocial Personality Disorder, for example, has clear markers: chronic dishonesty, demonstrated disregard for others, lack of remorse, impulsive behavior. It can be identified across time and context, and most importantly, it responds to specific interventions.

But narcissism?

The term doesn’t hold up.

It fails the tests of clarity, reliability, and usefulness. One therapist might see narcissism in a man who talks proudly about his accomplishments; another sees the same behavior as sharing leadership wisdom. One woman calls her ex a narcissist because he set boundaries; another praises those same traits in her new husband. A father who struggles to express affection gets pathologized as narcissistic by one adult child, and quietly respected for his restraint by another.

The label lacks tether. It’s not anchored to cause, behavior, or result.

It floats. It morphs. It reflects less about the person being described, and more about the insecurity or pain of the one using it.

And in trying to describe everything, it ends up describing nothing.

That’s not psychology. It’s projection.

We turned “narcissist” into a slur, a cudgel we swing at anyone who disagrees with us, makes us uncomfortable, or dares to outshine us. It’s no longer more useful than simply saying "man bad."

What Does "Narcissist" Even Mean?

So what does “narcissist” mean today?

Whatever the accuser wants it to mean.

Sometimes it means someone is confident. Other times, ambitious. Or assertive. Or charismatic. Or proud. Or selfish. Or charming. Or controlling. Or emotionally abusive. And sometimes, it simply means the other person didn’t agree with the accuser.

The list doesn’t end, because there is no clear definition.

When you call someone a narcissist, are you naming a trait? Or expressing your own pain? Or just reacting to how their ego made you feel?

Are you labeling a pattern of manipulation? Or just someone who knows they’re good at what they do? Or someone who’s willing to set a boundary that you don’t like?

We don’t know. And that’s the problem.

Side note: in my experience, true manipulators are the first to accuse others of manipulation. It’s a preemptive strike, a decoy. They believe if they say it first, it shields them from being exposed.

The same thing happens with the word narcissist.

Narcissism Doesn’t Survive Scientific Scrutiny

Before we go further, let’s look at what the DSM-5 actually says about Narcissistic Personality Disorder. These are the official diagnostic traits, and how each one collapses under scrutiny when we try to apply it with clarity, truth, and reciprocity.

What we find is simple: for every trait listed, we already have a better, more operational term. One that doesn’t blur the line between pathology and personality. One that can be observed, measured, and acted on.

But don’t just take my word for it, let’s examine the clinical roots and see how shallow they really are.

Here’s what that disambiguation looks like:

Every trait here has a clearer name or description. Every clearer name leads to a clearer solution. Calling it narcissism blurs the edges. Disambiguation sharpens them.

And one special note about empathy, since this trait is one of the most weaponized, it deserves a direct clarification. Most people don’t understand what empathy really is, let alone how it works in the real world:

When most people say "you lack empathy," what they really mean is "you didn’t agree with me or do what I wanted." But empathy is not blind compliance. It’s a limited, precious resource. It takes energy. It takes time. And it must be rationed.

We cannot, and should not, extend unlimited empathy to those outside our Circle of Care. Empathy isn’t just a warm feeling. It’s a costly act. It asks you to notice someone else’s pain, feel it, and then respond, often at the expense of your own time, energy, or resources.

So we ration it. We prioritize it. We give it to those we are responsible for, to those we love, to those who have earned our care. That’s not cruelty. That’s stewardship.

The real danger is when manipulators demand empathy as proof of virtue. “If you cared, you’d give me what I want.” But empathy is not submission. It is not forced agreement. It is not the abandonment of your own boundaries. Saying no with a clear heart is not a failure of empathy, it’s the mark of someone who knows where their responsibility ends, and where someone else’s manipulation begins. That’s wisdom. Because your emotional bandwidth, like every other resource, must be spent where it creates the most good.

Because of its vague boundaries, once someone learns the word “narcissist,” they start seeing it everywhere.

Every ex becomes one. Every bad boss. Every failed friendship. Every powerful man or beautiful woman who made them feel small. And soon, it doesn’t stop at relationships. It creeps into how they explain everything, from the decline of civilization to the state of politics and culture. Narcissism becomes the catch-all villain behind every social ill. Because the word is so vague, it always fits. But at that scale, the diagnosis becomes dangerous. It blocks our ability to understand people’s real motivations, incentives, fears, and goals. It replaces thought with accusation, and understanding with outrage.

They see narcissists everywhere, but they don’t ask if they’re the ones attracting toxic people, or if they’ve simply trained their lens to label every disappointment as abuse and every disagreement as pathology.

It’s projection disguised as insight.

And when you weaponize a label like that, you’re not analyzing behavior. You’re avoiding self-examination.

Three Core Arguments That Undermine the Narcissism Narrative

Now that we’ve seen how narcissism fails the scientific and diagnostic test, let’s break down the broader cultural problem. These are the three key reasons the term “narcissist” no longer serves us, and often does more harm than good.

1. "Narcissist" Doesn’t Mean Anything Specific, It Just Means You Don’t Like Them

The term is used as a junk drawer for traits people don’t want to deal with:

• Confidence

• Pride

• Assertiveness

• Visibility

But these traits, when tempered by maturity and ethics, are not only acceptable, they’re necessary.

• Confidence inspires.

• Pride in your work drives excellence.

• Assertiveness enables leadership.

• Visibility allows others to follow.

So when do these traits become toxic?

They don’t.

Not by themselves.

They only become dangerous when fused with things like entitlement, cruelty, dishonesty, or impulsiveness. And if those are the real problems, we should name them precisely.

Anything else is diagnostic laziness.

2. It’s Become a Weapon, Not a Diagnosis

Once upon a time, “narcissist” was treated as if it referred to a diagnosable condition. There was at least an attempt to define it scientifically and limit its use. But today, it's no longer grounded in discipline or diagnosis. It’s a social cudgel, vague, emotional, and endlessly adaptable to whatever someone wants to condemn.

People use it to:

• Discredit others

• Silence dissent

• Justify moral superiority

And worst of all: you can’t defend yourself against it. The accusation is the evidence.

Try denying it. Say, "No, I don’t think highly of myself," and you disqualify yourself from being taken seriously. You’re signaling weakness, not humility. Especially for men, especially for leaders, denying your own value is social suicide.

Try asserting the truth instead. Say, "I’m not a narcissist, I’m just good at what I do." And that will be taken as proof of the accusation.

This trap doesn’t correct behavior. It crushes identity. It teaches the confident to shrink, the capable to self-doubt, and the virtuous to pretend they’re ordinary. Over time, especially in young men, this leads to collapse, of initiative, of drive, of self-respect.

We shouldn’t be pathologizing strong egos. We should be cultivating them, anchored in virtue, tethered to reality, and grounded in service. Confidence that comes from earned excellence isn’t narcissism. It’s maturity.

It’s time to stop punishing people for knowing who they are.

This isn’t psychology. It’s witch-burning.

3. We Already Have Better Words

If someone is manipulative, call them that. If someone lacks empathy, say so. If they’re arrogant, dishonest, or abusive, we already have words for those things.

Using “narcissist” to describe all of them at once is like checking your heart rate to diagnose a broken leg.

Vague terms destroy discernment.

Precise terms help us solve problems.

What About the People We’re Tearing Down?

Now here’s the part they don’t tell you:

Some of the people who get labeled “narcissist” aren’t dysfunctional at all.

They’re just better.

Better than average. Smarter. Stronger. More creative. More aware of their power. And because of that, they’re seen as dangerous.

So we drag them back down.

Like crabs in a bucket.

We’d rather insult than ascend.

We’d rather pathologize excellence than rise to meet it.

This is cultural suicide.

A Better Way to Protect Yourself

Here’s the better path forward:

1. Stop using “narcissist” as a placeholder for pain, disagreement, or vague discomfort.

2. Name the real traits, good or bad.

3. Learn how manipulation works and how to defend against it.

If you’ve ever been manipulated, gaslit, or emotionally preyed on, there’s a better way to understand it than these pop-psych terms.

That’s why I wrote this:

Become Immune to Manipulation: They Are Manipulating You and How to Resist It

It’s a guide to help you:

• Detect manipulation in real time

• Understand the tools manipulators use

• Build defenses rooted in clarity, strength, and Natural Law

It’s short. It’s blunt. And it will change how you see people.

Read it. Share it. Live by it.

Because if you want to protect yourself from emotional predators, you don’t need therapy-speak.

You need a sword.

Retire the Label. Restore the Truth.

The truth is simple:

We don’t fix culture by inventing new labels. We fix it by restoring clarity, praising the good, correcting the harmful, and refusing to weaponize our language against truth.

So let’s stop using the narcissist slur.

And start seeing people for who they really are.

@ 0fa80bd3:ea7325de

The land that belongs to the indigenous peoples of Russia has been seized by a gang of killers who have unleashed a war of extermination. They wipe out anyone who refuses to conform to their rules. Those who disagree and stay behind are tortured and killed in prisons and labor camps. Those who flee lose their homeland, dissolve into foreign cultures, and fade away. And those who stand up to protect their people are attacked by the misled and deceived. The deceived die for the unchecked greed of a single dictator—thousands from both sides, people who just wanted to live, raise their kids, and build a future.

Now, they are forced to make an impossible choice: abandon their homeland or die. Some perish on the battlefield, others lose themselves in exile, stripped of their identity, scattered in a world that isn’t theirs.

There’s been endless debate about how to fix this, how to clear the field of the weeds that choke out every new sprout, every attempt at change. But the real problem? We can’t play by their rules. We can’t speak their language or use their weapons. We stand for humanity, and no matter how righteous our cause, we will not multiply suffering. Victory doesn’t come from matching the enemy—it comes from staying ahead, from using tools they haven’t mastered yet. That’s how wars are won.

Our only resource is the will of the people to rewrite the order of things. Historian Timothy Snyder once said that a nation cannot exist without a city. A city is where the most active part of a nation thrives. But the cities are occupied. The streets are watched. Gatherings are impossible. They control the money. They control the mail. They control the media. And any dissent is crushed before it can take root.

So I started asking myself: How do we stop this fragmentation? How do we create a space where people can rebuild their connections when they’re ready? How do we build a self-sustaining network, where everyone contributes and benefits proportionally, while keeping their freedom to leave intact? And more importantly—how do we make it spread, even in occupied territory?

In 2009, something historic happened: the internet got its own money. Thanks to Satoshi Nakamoto, the world took a massive leap forward. Bitcoin and decentralized ledgers shattered the idea that money must be controlled by the state. Now, to move or store value, all you need is an address and a key. A tiny string of text, easy to carry, impossible to seize.

That was the year money broke free. The state lost its grip. Its biggest weapon—physical currency—became irrelevant. Money became purely digital.

The internet was already a sanctuary for information, a place where people could connect and organize. But with Bitcoin, it evolved. Now, value itself could flow freely, beyond the reach of authorities.

Think about it: when seedlings are grown in controlled environments before being planted outside, they get stronger, survive longer, and bear fruit faster. That’s how we handle crops in harsh climates—nurture them until they’re ready for the wild.

Now, picture the internet as that controlled environment for ideas. Bitcoin? It’s the fertile soil that lets them grow. A testing ground for new models of interaction, where concepts can take root before they move into the real world. If nation-states are a battlefield, locked in a brutal war for territory, the internet is boundless. It can absorb any number of ideas, any number of people, and it doesn’t run out of space.

But for this ecosystem to thrive, people need safe ways to communicate, to share ideas, to build something real—without surveillance, without censorship, without the constant fear of being erased.

This is where Nostr comes in.

Nostr—"Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted by Relays"—is more than just a messaging protocol. It’s a new kind of city. One that no dictator can seize, no corporation can own, no government can shut down.

It’s built on decentralization, encryption, and individual control. Messages don’t pass through central servers—they are relayed through independent nodes, and users choose which ones to trust. There’s no master switch to shut it all down. Every person owns their identity, their data, their connections. And no one—no state, no tech giant, no algorithm—can silence them.

In a world where cities fall and governments fail, Nostr is a city that cannot be occupied. A place for ideas, for networks, for freedom. A city that grows stronger the more people build within it.

@ 6be5cc06:5259daf0

A seguir, veja como instalar e configurar o Privoxy no Pop!_OS.

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1. Instalar o Tor e o Privoxy

Abra o terminal e execute:

bash sudo apt update sudo apt install tor privoxy

Explicação:

• Tor: Roteia o tráfego pela rede Tor.
• Privoxy: Proxy avançado que intermedia a conexão entre aplicativos e o Tor.

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2. Configurar o Privoxy

Abra o arquivo de configuração do Privoxy:

bash sudo nano /etc/privoxy/config

Navegue até a última linha (atalho: Ctrl + / depois Ctrl + V para navegar diretamente até a última linha) e insira:

bash forward-socks5 / 127.0.0.1:9050 .

Isso faz com que o Privoxy envie todo o tráfego para o Tor através da porta 9050.

Salve (CTRL + O e Enter) e feche (CTRL + X) o arquivo.

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3. Iniciar o Tor e o Privoxy

Agora, inicie e habilite os serviços:

bash sudo systemctl start tor sudo systemctl start privoxy sudo systemctl enable tor sudo systemctl enable privoxy

Explicação:

• start: Inicia os serviços.
• enable: Faz com que iniciem automaticamente ao ligar o PC.

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4. Configurar o Navegador Firefox

Para usar a rede Tor com o Firefox:

1. Abra o Firefox.
2. Acesse Configurações → Configurar conexão.
3. Selecione Configuração manual de proxy.
4. Configure assim:
   • Proxy HTTP: 127.0.0.1
   • Porta: 8118 (porta padrão do Privoxy)
   • Domínio SOCKS (v5): 127.0.0.1
   • Porta: 9050
5. Marque a opção "Usar este proxy também em HTTPS".
6. Clique em OK.

---

5. Verificar a Conexão com o Tor

Abra o navegador e acesse:

text https://check.torproject.org/

Se aparecer a mensagem "Congratulations. This browser is configured to use Tor.", a configuração está correta.

---

Dicas Extras

• Privoxy pode ser ajustado para bloquear anúncios e rastreadores.
• Outros aplicativos também podem ser configurados para usar o Privoxy.

@ eb0157af:77ab6c55

Banking giants JPMorgan, Bank of America, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo are in talks to develop a unified stablecoin solution.

According to the Wall Street Journal on May 22, some of the largest financial institutions in the United States are exploring the possibility of joining forces to launch a stablecoin.

Subsidiaries of JPMorgan, Bank of America, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo have initiated preliminary discussions for a joint stablecoin issuance, according to sources close to the matter cited by the WSJ. Also at the negotiating table are Early Warning Services, the parent company of the digital payments network Zelle, and the payment network Clearing House.

The talks are reportedly still in the early stages, and any final decision could change depending on regulatory developments and market demand for stablecoins.

Stablecoin regulation

On May 20, the US Senate voted 66 to 32 to advance discussion of the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins Act (GENIUS Act), a specific law to regulate stablecoins. The bill outlines a regulatory framework for stablecoin collateralization and mandates compliance with anti-money laundering rules.

David Sacks, White House crypto advisor, expressed optimism about the bill’s bipartisan approval. However, senior Democratic Party officials intend to amend the bill to include a clause preventing former President Donald Trump and other US officials from profiting from stablecoins.

Demand for stablecoins has increased, with total market capitalization rising to $245 billion from $205 billion at the beginning of the year, a 20% increase.

The post Major US banks consider launching a joint stablecoin appeared first on Atlas21.

@ cae03c48:2a7d6671

Bitcoin Magazine

1.5 Million Users to Access Bitcoin’s Lightning Network on Xverse thanks to Sati

Sati, a Bitcoin payments app and Lightning infrastructure provider, today announced the launch of its Lightning integration with Xverse, a Bitcoin wallet used by over 1.5 million people worldwide. Thanks to the integration, Xverse users can now send and receive sats (Bitcoin’s smallest denomination) instantly over the Lightning Network with no setup, no app switching, and no custodial risk.

Initially designed in 2017, the Lightning Network has grown to become Bitcoin’s leading layer-2, with a current BTC capacity of over $465M. Sati is now leveraging this technology to bring the world’s favorite digital currency into the pockets of almost 3 billion users worldwide, thanks to its powerful API integration with WhatsApp.

“Bitcoin was not meant to be an asset for Wall Street—it was built for peer-to-peer money, borderless and accessible,” said Felipe Servin, Founder and CEO of Sati. “Integrating Lightning natively into Xverse brings that vision back to life, making Bitcoin usable at scale for billions.”

Thanks to the integration, every Xverse user now gets a Lightning Address instantly. That means they can receive tips, pay invoices, and use Bitcoin for microtransactions—all without having to manage channels or switch between different apps. Sati expects USDT on Lightning to be supported as early as Q3 for the Xverse wallet and in July 2025
for users accessing Sati through WhatsApp.

This integration positions Sati’s role as a Lightning infrastructure provider, not just a consumer app. By leveraging its API-based solution, the company provides plug-and-play backend services to wallets and platforms looking to add Bitcoin payments without compromising on security or UX.

The Xverse launch follows the debut of Parasite Pool, a new mining pool leveraging Sati and Xverse’s tech stack and focused on democratizing Bitcoin mining. Parasite Pool charges 0% fees and pays out instantly over Lightning, making it ideal for small-scale miners, especially those running ultra-low-power hardware like Bitaxe.

With over 500 users joining Parasite Pool within weeks of launch and an average pool hashrate of 5 PH/s, Parasite Pool is steadily growing its presence in the home mining space. Thanks to the Lightning integration, Parasite Pool supports the smallest Lightning payouts in the industry (a fraction of a cent), lowering the barrier to entry for anyone interested in mining.

Sati recently closed a $600K pre-seed round backed by Bitcoin-focused investors, including Draper Associates, BitcoinFi, Arcanum, BoostVC, and Ricardo Salinas. The funding is being used to support global expansion, stablecoin integration, Lightning infrastructure growth, and broader access to Bitcoin in emerging markets.

Sati will be conducting live product demos at Bitcoin 2025 in Las Vegas on May 27-29. To learn more about Sati, visit sati.pro

About Sati
Sati is a Bitcoin payments infrastructure provider. Launched in 2025 with investors of the likes as Draper Associates and Ricardo Salinas, Sati powers fast, seamless Bitcoin payments on applications such as WhatsApp to fuel the next wave of adoption. Learn more at sati.pro

About Xverse
Xverse is the on-chain platform for the Bitcoin economy—think Revolut meets Alchemy, built natively on Bitcoin. Trusted by over 1.5 million users, Xverse is launching a unified portfolio platform for Bitcoin L1 and Layer 2s, alongside developer infrastructure to power seamless Bitcoin-native apps.

Press Contact
press@sati.pro

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored press release. Readers are encouraged to perform their own due diligence before acting on any information presented in this article.

This post 1.5 Million Users to Access Bitcoin’s Lightning Network on Xverse thanks to Sati first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Sati.

@ 51bbb15e:b77a2290

Yeah, I’m sure everything in the file is legit. 👍 Let’s review the guard witness testimony…Oh wait, they weren’t at their posts despite 24/7 survellience instructions after another Epstein “suicide” attempt two weeks earlier. Well, at least the video of the suicide is in the file? Oh wait, a techical glitch. Damn those coincidences!

At this point, the Trump administration has zero credibility with me on anything related to the Epstein case and his clients. I still suspect the administration is using the Epstein files as leverage to keep a lot of RINOs in line, whereas they’d be sabotaging his agenda at every turn otherwise. However, I just don’t believe in ends-justify-the-means thinking. It’s led almost all of DC to toss out every bit of the values they might once have had.